“It’s surreal to have a place in the record books with one of the best MLB franchises”- St. Louis Cardinals is named the 2024 team MVP

St. Louis Cardinals: Ryan Helsley is named the 2024 team MVP. The hard-throwing closer from Oklahoma has set a new franchise record with 49 saves this season.

While Masyn Winn leads the team in WAR according to Baseball-Reference.com, thanks to his exceptional performance on both offense and defense, there’s no doubt that Helsley has had the most substantial impact on the team. He ranks second on the team with a 3.0 WAR.

By achieving the single-season saves record last Friday with his 49th save, Ryan Helsley has solidified his position as the most valuable player for the Cardinals this season. Whenever the game was on the line, Helsley stepped up, ensuring the Cardinals finished with a winning record in 2024, even if he wasn’t quite as flawless as Jose Valverde was in 2011.

After Helsley achieved his 49th save in the Cardinals’ 6-3 victory over the San Francisco Giants, former record holder Trevor Rosenthal congratulated him via X.

It’s surreal to have a place in the record books with one of the best MLB franchises—I set the single-season saves record in 2015, with the St Louis cardinals–and it’s even better to see another player match than beat that mark. I couldn’t be happier for Ryan Helsley. He is a…

— Trevor Rosenthal

Helsley’s season got off to a rocky start, as he failed to secure a save in the Cardinals’ extra-inning victory on March 30th against the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, from April 2nd onward, Helsley excelled in save opportunities until July 5th against the Washington Nationals, where he experienced a blown save after successfully saving 31 consecutive games.

While fans might justifiably name Masyn Winn as the Most Valuable Player of the 2024 St. Louis Cardinals, Ryan Helsley’s ability to close out games was critical. With 49 saves this season, he played a key role in returning the Cardinals to a winning record, which was much needed after last year’s struggles.

Going forward, Helsley’s name is likely to come up in trade discussions as the Cardinals plan to rebuild for 2025. If this was his final season with the Birds on the Bat, he will be remembered as one of the greatest closers in the franchise’s history.