Few MLB players have made the leap toward superstardom the way Gunnar Henderson has in 2024. The Baltimore Orioles shortstop is among the top candidates for American League MVP and is quickly becoming the face of the franchise.
Following a Rookie of the Year Award-winning campaign in 2023, Henderson's numbers are miles better this year. He's on pace for 50 home runs and 111 RBIs while slashing .278/.377/.596. He has a 1.052 OPS in June and has reached base safely in 31 consecutive games.
Shortstop might be the most talented position in baseball right now. It's hard to define one player as being the best at the position, but Henderson certainly has a case. He is one of many though, including reigning World Series MVP Corey Seager of the Texas Rangers.
Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker said last Saturday that he sees some of Seager in Henderson.
“He might be Corey Seager,” Snitker said. “Big, physical, athletic.”
Henderson and Seager have similar builds and the latter too won Rookie of the Year in 2015. Seager has since followed that with a pair of World Series MVPs, four total All-Star selections, three Silver Slugger Awards and an MVP runner-up finish in 2023.
Corey Seager isn’t in Gunnar Henderson's realm this year, but Baltimore's 22-year-old budding superstar can look at Seager's career as a solid barometer for success, financials included. Adding an MVP in his second season would put him at a better pace for comparison's sake, but winning a World Series would come in handy as well.
Henderson, Witt battle for AL shortstop supremacy
Baseball reporter Ken Rosenthal recently asked nearly a dozen American League players and coaches to choose between Gunnar Henderson and Kansas City Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. for the AL's starting shortstop spot at next month's All-Star Game.
Witt is also having an MVP-caliber season after a spectacular rookie year. He and Henderson are first and second among AL shortstops in All-Star Game voting with Henderson leading by just shy of 600,000 votes.
Rosenthal said that the vote was pretty close among the 11 personnel he asked. One anonymous American League manager called Rosenthal last weekend to change his vote.
“Gunnar changed my view,” the manager said. “He’s the top shortstop in the league. Game changer. Witt is not that far off.”
Henderson carried a 14-game hitting streak into Saturday's game against the Houston Astros which might have had something to do with the vote swap. Regardless of the reason, it's hard to argue with the decision. Witt is no doubt having a fantastic season, but Henderson's numbers are better and he does seem to jump out at you a bit more.
The Royals already locked in Witt for the long haul and the Orioles would be foolish not to do the same with Henderson sooner rather than later. The two should be among the best shortstops and perhaps the best overall position players in the league for the next decade.
Orioles trying to close out first half strong
With the All-Star break approaching, teams are trying to gain ground in the standings and put themselves in a good position for the unofficial second half. Teams will have about 65 games left to play when the MLB season resumes on July 19 following a four-day break.
The Orioles are not a lock to make the playoffs but their odds are high. Baltimore is still very much in the race for the AL East as it sits only two games behind the New York Yankees. The Orioles are 5-2 against the Yankees this year.
Baltimore has a six-game lead for the top wild card spot in the American League with a 49-29 record. The Orioles are on pace to win 101 games, the same amount they won a season ago.
Maybe their goal isn’t to win the division again, but the Orioles are likely aiming for everything this year. Doing well across its next 18 games before the All-Star break will build Baltimore's confidence. Getting healthy and being well-positioned for the second half will be crucial to the Orioles' postseason success.
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