Helland, 20, will be entering his third season with the local club, having seen spot duty as an underage call-up in 2017 and 2018 before suiting up full-time for the Express in the 2019 campaign.
Originally an infielder who primarily played third base, Helland emerged as a force out of the bullpen as the 2019 campaign rolled along despite taking the field as a freshman in a league that primarily features junior and senior college standouts.
Helland would make 12 relief appearances and scatter 15 hits over 21 ⅓ innings of work, striking out 19 and walking 17. It all translated into a 2.95 earned run average and saw Helland emerge as one of the team’s go-to relievers as the campaign progressed.
That all led to a break-out showing when Helland returned to the field with Monterey Peninsula College of the California Community College Athletic Association this past spring.
Helland’s coach with the Lobos was plenty aware of what he had done on the mound in the WCBL and moved his freshman infielder to the bullpen full time. And the Peacock grad didn’t disappoint.
Helland would pitch 10 ⅔ innings, allowing only four hits and striking out 15 against only two walks. Most impressively, he didn’t allow a run in five appearances and by the time a lingering forearm injury shut him down, Helland had emerged as the team’s closer.
Of course, the ongoing pandemic would shut the CCCAA down in mid-March, taking away the opportunity to see how he’d look the remainder of the season and in an Express uniform in 2020.
You can keep an eye on how Reece is doing through the college season in California by keeping an eye on Monterey Peninsula at www.athletics.mpc.edu.
The Miller Express open their 2021 season on May 28 against the Medicine Hat Mavericks at Ross Wells Park.
