The Los Angeles Angels are projected to select catcher Ryder Helfrick with the No. 12 pick in the 2026 MLB Draft. Helfrick, currently with the Arkansas Razorbacks, has excelled offensively and defensively this season.
The Athleticâs Keith Law predicted the Los Angeles Angels to select catcher Ryder Helfrick with the No. 12 pick in the 2026 MLB Draft.
Helfrick currently plays for the Arkansas Razorbacks, and has been fantastic for his team this season. He has matched his home run total from the 2024-25 season in 13 fewer games, and has already set a career best with 44 RBIs.
His real value, though, comes in his defense. MLB.com grades his arm a 60 and his fielding a 55 on the 80-grade scale, which they use to appraise all prospects.
âHelfrick is an educated guess here â heâs a good enough defender that he could move somewhat quickly, and could probably catch in the majors next year,â Law wrote.
Feb 6, 2026; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks catcher Ryder Helfrick (27) gets ready for the pitch during the fifth inning of the Arkansas Razorbacks scrimmage at Baum-Walker Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-Imagn Images
Drafting a catcher, especially one who Law believes will crack MLB in 2027, is an odd move for the Angels, as they have Logan OâHoppe serving as their backstop at the moment. Backup Travis dâArnaud is also spending time behind the plate, though his contract runs out after this season.
The Angels have placed a lot of faith in OâHoppe over the past couple years and it paid off in 2024, but his results drastically fell in 2025. He hit 18 of his 19 homers in the first half of the season before going on a dry spell, and finished the year with a .629 OPS.
He currently has a .579 OPS in 2026 with just one home run, and is sitting on the injured list with a fractured wrist. If the Angels do opt to go for Helfrick, it would likely be as OâHoppeâs replacement.
Ryder Helfrick is a catcher for the Arkansas Razorbacks, known for matching his previous season's home run total in 13 fewer games and achieving a career-best 44 RBIs.
The No. 12 pick in the 2026 MLB Draft is significant as it represents a key opportunity for the Angels to acquire a promising talent like Ryder Helfrick.
Helfrick's defense is highly regarded, with an arm graded at 60 and fielding at 55 on the 80-grade scale, indicating he could quickly transition to the majors.
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