As we close in on the 2026 MLB Draft, the focus on who the Atlanta Braves are looking at for the ninth overall pick has come into focus a bit. Names like Georgia Tech outfielder Drew Burress, Arkansas catcher Ryder Helfrick, Kentucky shortstop Tyler Bell, and Florida prep lefty Gio Rojas seem to be the names most prominently linked to the club. Massachusetts prep lefty Brody Bumila is also a name that has received some buzz. My goal is to start to break down who these players are and their strengths and weaknesses to prepare you for the newest Braves prospect.
We will continue the series by looking at Arkansas catcher Ryder Helfrick, who is one of the names prominently linked to the Braves at 9th overall.
Bio
Name: Ryder Helfrick
Position: Catcher
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 210
College: Arkansas
High School: Clayton Valley Charter HS (Concord, CA)
Previously Drafted: N/A
Bats/Throws: R/R
Stats
2024: .179/.320/.321, 3 2B, 0 3B, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 1-1 SB, 14 BB, 28 K in 104 PA over 31 games
2024: .261/.323/.514, 3 2B, 0 3B, 11 HR, 37 RBI, 8-10 SB, 10 BB, 33 K in 158 PA over 36 games in Cape Cod League
2025: .305/.420/.616, 10 2B, 2 3B, 15 HR, 38 RBI, 3-5 SB, 32 BB, 53 K in 236 PA over 61 games
2026: .283/.417/.562, 7 2B, 1 3B, 18 HR, 53 RBI, 8-9 SB, 55 BB, 55 K in 288 PA over 62 games
Hit 40/45
Helfrick has a below average hit tool, though he has made significant strides with his plate discipline, bringing his walk total up to match his strikeout total this season. That said he is a player with real swing and miss, and can struggle at times against both off speed and breaking balls. He has also only hit for a .300 average just once in his career.
What Helfrick does do well is he has excellent bat speed and zero trouble with velocity. This season he put up a slash line of .348/.500/.913 against pitches from 94 to 97 MPH, so he is a guy who may be forced to confront his issues against secondary pitches when he goes up against more advanced pitchers. He also is a player with a tendency to chase out of the zone, which is another thing that will need some work with pro coaching.
It is important to note that he made huge strides with the hit tool this year, despite his slash line being down across the board. His whiff percentile jumped from 12th in 2025 to a more respectable 41st this year, with the in zone whiff percentile jumping from 11th to 52nd and the out of zone whiff going from 9th to 26th. At the same time his barrel percentile went from 59th last year to 93rd in 2026.
Power 55
Helfrick has plus power in him, but it projects more as an above average tool in game at the next level due to the fact that the hit tool will keep him from tapping into it at times. Still the power is one of his biggest selling points, and it’s not hard to picture him hitting 20 homers in a big league season.
Helfrick has posted excellent exit velocities, though most of his power goes to the pull side. His exit velocity came in in the 92nd percentile, with his 90th percentile exit velocity coming in in the 95th percentile.
Speed 40
While he is a below average runner overall, he has decent speed for the catcher position. That combined with his feel for the game could allow for him to steal a few bases – particularly earlier in his pro career.
Glove 55
Helfrick is a very sound defender, and this may be his calling card. He is actually more advanced than most college catchers because he is able to call his own games from behind the dish. His defense is actually what has teams most interested in him.
Arm 60
Helfrick has a big arm which is easy to project as a plus tool for him. He will need to clean some things up, but this is the type of player that you can expect will be able to make those changes in time.
Overall
Helfrick is a solid, experienced, and already well coached player who should be an asset for a big league club. The only real issue with him is that his ceiling isn’t very high – especially for a Top 10 selection. For that reason he isn’t my personal favorite among the options being discussed, though if the team was able to get him a little underslot it would help to change my opinion of the pick somewhat.
Helfrick is a prospect very reminiscent of former Braves Top 10 selection Shea Langeliers. That is because he is a glove and power catcher with a big arm, but also some questions about how much he will hit as a big leaguer. You may remember me not being a fan of the Langeliers pick in 2019, but a big part of that was because of who else was on the board (Corbin Carroll). There does not appear to be another player like Carroll who would be available at #9 this year, so my opinion on this potential pick would not be nearly as strong.
I would say with his maturity and polish, he could probably be in the big leagues by late-2028 – which would probably be sooner if not for needing some time to continue working on his hit tool. I think his ceiling is that of an above average big league starter, with a floor of being a backup catcher who has a long career.
I also don’t believe the presence of young star Drake Baldwin should have any effect on the Braves front office in deciding to select Helfrick, as they could use Helfrick behind the plate in order to get Baldwin more days in the lineup at DH to help prolong his career.
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