SEARCY – Former Harding catcher Collin Helms has signed a professional contract with the Washington Wild Things of the Frontier League, the team announced Wednesday. The signing reunites Helms with his former Bisons teammate, pitcher Maddox Long, in Washington, Pennsylvania.
Helms will wear No. 1 and is active for the Wild Things tonight as they open a series against the Windy City ThunderBolts in Crestwood, Illinois at 6:35 p.m. CDT.
A mainstay behind the plate for Harding, Helms wraps up a decorated four-year collegiate career in which he earned All-Great American Conference (GAC) honors in every season. He was a Second-Team All-GAC selection in 2024 and 2026, and an Honorable Mention recipient in 2023 and 2025.
During the 2026 campaign, Helms started 51 games for the Bisons, batting .269 with nine home runs, 13 doubles, and 47 RBIs. Showcasing elite plate discipline, he walked 26 times and was hit by a pitch 14 times while striking out just 22 times in 182 at-bats.
Helms' durability and knack for getting on base were staples of his time in Searcy. In 2025, he tied the Harding single-season record by starting all 60 games, slashing .322/.465/.498 while setting a school record by being hit by a pitch 25 times.
Over his sophomore and freshman seasons, Helms was an offensive force. He posted a 1.111 OPS with nine home runs in 2024, following a freshman campaign in 2023 where he hit a career-high .366 across 38 games.
Following the 2025 college season, Helms teamed up with Long in summer ball to help lead the Green Bay Rockers to a Northwoods League championship. In that title run, Helms hit .289 with four home runs, 28 RBIs, and 12 stolen bases.
Long has already made an immediate impact on the mound for Washington this summer. In four starts, the former Harding right-hander boasts a 1-1 record with a microscopic 1.61 ERA. Over 28.0 innings of work, Long has surrendered just 17 hits while racking up 15 strikeouts.
Harding fans can follow Helms and Long throughout the professional season by visiting washingtonwildthings.com or via social media @WashWildThings.
