Gunnar Henderson – a Deeper Look
Gunnar Henderson, starting shortstop and leadoff hitter for the Baltimore Orioles. As one of the Orioles most promising young stars, he quickly established himself as a dynamic force in the MLB. Despite his age, Henderson’s raw athleticism and talent, as well as knowledge and love of the game, earned him the grand title of Orioles Top Prospect and American League Rookie of the Year in 2023.
Born and raised in Selma, Alabama, Henderson played a variety of sports, not just baseball, as many fans would assume. He also played basketball, and he played it rather well. He was named Alabama Independent School Association Player of the Year while attending John T. Morgan Academy after averaging 17 points and 11 rebounds per game. He had always been an athletic kid, but his dad and his siblings pushed him every day to become better, become more. The fire that we see in Henderson today derived from his older brother, Jackson. Henderson often played against his older brother in many sporting events when they were both still young, and from there his competitiveness and work ethic was born. Kyle Moore, former Orioles Minor League coach, says, “[Henderson] is the hardest working person in the clubhouse. It’s not a fake try-hard, false hustle. It’s real. That’s who he really is.” Eventually, Henderson took up baseball as a full-time sport, practicing and honing his craft every day on the baseball field that his father built for him in their backyard. Henderson committed to play college baseball at Auburn University as just a sophomore in high school, which is a rather impressive feat. By his senior year in 2019, he was named the Alabama Player of the Year with a batting average of .559 with 17 doubles, nine triples, 11 home runs, 69 runs scored, 75 RBIs, and 32 stolen bases. He also won the USA Today High School Baseball Player of the Year award, an award also won by the Arizona Diamondbacks Corbin Carroll and the Kansas City Royals Bobby Witt, Jr. Two years after he graduated, Henderson’s uniform number was retired by the Morgan Academy baseball program. Henderson started out his minor league career with the Low-A Delmarva Shorebirds. He was then promoted to the High-A Aberdeen IronBirds and the Double-A Bowie Baysox, and then finally to the Norfolk Tides. During his time in the minor leagues, he hit .276 with 252 hits in 914 at bats, 37 home runs, 161 RBIs, 40 stolen bases, and a .866 OPS.
Ever since Manny Machado left the program in 2018 and was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Orioles had been missing that dominant presence at third base. In the years following the loss of Manny Machado, Adam Jones, Chris Davis, and many other beloved Orioles players, fans began to lose hope. In 2019, the Orioles finished the season with a losing record of 54-108, and then another losing record in 2021 of 52-110. Henderson was drafted to the Orioles in the second round with the 42 overall pick in the 2019 MLB draft as a third baseman, in what many hoped would be Machado’s replacement. However, as everybody watched his play, it became very clear that Henderson was me
ant for shortstop. He made his debut in 2022, and has continued to prove his place on the field and at the plate ever since. In his premiere season, Henderson batted .259 with four home runs, 7 doubles, one triple, and 18 RBIs. Since that season, he’s made nothing but improvements. This past season, Henderson went 177-630 with 31 doubles, seven triples, 37 home runs, and 92 RBIs. In addition to winning Rookie of the Year in 2023, Henderson also won the Heart and Hustle award, as well as MLB Player of the Month in April, and MLB Player of the Week in September.
Skills aside, Henderson is also known to be one of the most humble and kindhearted players on the team. Many people have commented on how, even when the cameras turn off and nobody is watching anymore, the stereotypically southern “yes ma’am, no sir” mannerisms that is often seen in Henderson doesn’t change. Henderson can often be seen talking with locker-neighbor Colton Cowser about their plans for after a game or about a recent Lego purchase, or making jokes with Adley Rutschmanーhe’s continuously striving to make a welcoming and warm atmosphere. No reporters ever get turned away from Henderson, and he gives every question and comment a carefully attentive, respectful, and polite answer. “That’s just the manners my parents have instilled in me,” Henderson says. “Just always respect everyone, no matter who it is.” The national spotlight has never once boosted Henderson’s ego or made him cocky and overbearing, and many are confident that it never will. Stephen Clements, Henderson’s former high school coach, said, “You couldn’t find anyone in high school that would speak negatively of Gunnar, because he treated everyone the same.” Buck Britton, the Triple-A Norfolk manager, described Henderson as “a really exciting player that’s hopefully in Baltimore for a very, very long time.”
The Orioles 2024 record was 91-71, second best in the American League East. It’s obvious that with the addition of Henderson, and the encouraging atmosphere and friendship combined with the drive and work ethic, the Baltimore Orioles have seen nothing but improvement. The Orioles management, the fans, and the players themselves all hope that improvement extends to the playoffs, as the Orioles have yet to win a playoff game since 2014. We can only hope that as Henderson continues to grow and mature in his position as an MLB player, it will bleed into his team’s success in the playoffs.
