Diamondbacks top pick Ryder Helfrick gets major league preview: ‘It was unreal’

PHOENIX — Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo told 2026 first-round pick Ryder Helfrick a story before the young catcher’s first batting practice as a member of the organization at Chase Field on Tuesday.

The Diamondbacks typically host their recent first-round picks each year to hit on the field and meet the current majors leaguers, some of whom may be their future teammates.

Lovullo told Helfrick about Corbin Carroll’s first BP and provided some advice:

“I was standing right behind the turtle on his first swing, (Carroll) takes it and is now ball watching,” Lovullo said. “It’s flying out towards center field and I’m like, ‘Okay, the pitcher is waiting to throw the next ball, why is he watching that? There’s no chance it is going over the fence. It’s a long way. Little fella.’

“And the ball keeps going and going and going and going and hit off basically the center field backdrop and I thought, ‘We might have something here.’ So fast forward four years and he’s a great big leaguer. I told Helfrick today don’t make your first swing like Corbin’s, just hit a line drive to the opposite field.”

Helfrick appeared to follow that, at first. He opened up and hit a few pitches over the wall in left field eventually.

He had to keep up with his partner, as he was hitting in the same group as Nolan Arenado.

 

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“It was unreal,” Helfrick, who was with his family at the ballpark, said. “Just being in the stadium and being here is pretty cool. Hitting with a guy who just got his 2,000th hit the night before was pretty unreal as well, so it was an awesome experience.”

The draftee also got to talk with veteran catcher and fellow Arkansas Razorback James McCann, someone Helfrick said he’d looked up to.

Helfrick entered the draft as a stout defensive catcher who had improved at the plate, hitting a career-high 18 home runs in his junior season at Arkansas.

He played a part-time role as a freshman before earning the starting catcher job, and his ability to call games and handle pitching staffs were attractive traits on his draft profile. The Diamondbacks believe he could be someone who moves through the farm system quickly.

“Freshman year was a rough year, it was hard not playing every day,” Helfrick said. “You get to campus, you want to play, you want to do that. … Then getting to step up into the everyday catcher role at Arkansas as a sophomore was awesome. And then just taking it this year was even more, just trying to lead by example and lead by who I am. And it was a great three years.”

Lovullo said he chatted with Helfrick specifically about the importance of game-calling.

“I think the biggest thing for me is just trusting also who you have on the mound,” Helfrick said. “You’ve got to trust your guys. So, that was one of the best things I’ve learned.”

The Diamondbacks signed 20 of their 21 draft picks, agreeing to terms with Helfrick on a reported $5,241,000, the full slot value for the No. 15 overall pick. The draftees wil go through the process of orientation at Salt River Fields before eventually suiting up.

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