You'll never believe how many NY Mets fans would re-sign Ryan Helsley

It takes a lot to surprise fans of the New York Mets. They’ve seen miracles, collapses, and everything in between, usually before Memorial Day. Hope and heartbreak have become seasonal rites, so it takes something truly unusual to make this fanbase raise an eyebrow. Yet somehow, in a year already full of eyebrow-raising moments, Mets fans have managed to deliver a new one that even disbelief might envy.

As the dust settled on another season of highs, lows, and hard questions, Tim Britton of The Athletic ran his annual fan poll to gauge the pulse of Mets Nation. The topics ranged from assigning responsibility for the season’s missteps to the team’s future trajectory, and which players fans were most eager to see stay or join next year, among other questions. One response, however, stood out in a way that defied logic, if not expectation, given the season it followed.

Mets fans showed surprising support for Ryan Helsley after a rough season

When the Amazins swung for the fences with their bullpen trade moves at the deadline, Ryan Helsley was a centerpiece of the strategy. Coming off dominant seasons with the Cardinals, including a 49-save, 2.04 ERA campaign in 2024, Helsley was expected to be the closer who could stabilize the late innings. Instead, what arrived was a bullpen nightmare dressed in orange and blue.

Helsley’s numbers with the Mets were brutal. In just 20 innings over 22 appearances, he allowed 25 hits, walked 11, and pitched to a 7.20 ERA. More earned runs in those handful of games than he had given up in any full season from 2022 through 2024. The high hopes for a bridge to Edwin Díaz quickly turned into a mission to find Helsley a soft-landing spot to rebuild confidence. Every ringing of “Hells Bells” over Citi Field, followed by a chorus of boos, served as a constant reminder of just how far he had fallen from expectations.

And yet, in Tim Britton’s poll asking which non-Alonso free agents fans most wanted back, Helsley drew a surprisingly high 19%. For context, Tyler Rogers received 70% support, and Gregory Soto received 23%, which aligns more closely with their respective seasons. Helsley’s spot on the list underscores how remarkable it is that fans want him back despite a season in which he clearly struggled.

Helsley’s career shows flashes of the dominant closer the Mets hoped for, capable of shutting down any lineup. But with Queens, those flashes were fleeting, and it’s impossible to ignore the rough stretch he endured. Still, Mets fans are nothing if not hopeful, and apparently, even a bullpen disaster can inspire a surprising vote of confidence.