BALTIMORE — Gunnar Henderson is already having one of the best first halfs in Orioles history. When it’s all said and done, he might have one of the best seasons in major league history.
Henderson continued to carry that momentum into Wednesday, once again impressing with an all-around performance in Baltimore’s game against the Guardians at Camden Yards on Wednesday. Henderson hit his 26th home run and had two RBIs among his three hits. Cedric Mullins and Ryan O’Hearn each hit key home runs in support of Grayson Rodriguez late in the game to help Baltimore snap its longest five-game losing streak in more than two years.
But it was Henderson who had the big offensive effort. He continued to lead off the Baltimore lineup as a leadoff hitter and extended his career-high streak of reaching base in 33 games, the longest streak by an active player in MLB and the longest for the Orioles since Nick Markakis reached base in 38 consecutive games (July 5-August 18).
“I can’t say enough about him,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “His power and speed are unbelievable. The first hit of the game he hit a sinker back to the outside corner and then hit a liner over the shortstop’s head. He can cover, he can power, he can hit a liner the other way, he can draw a walk. He can do it all.”
Wednesday’s performance was the latest in a string of outstanding first half seasons for Henderson, who is leading the AL shortstop rankings in All-Star Game voting and is off to a sensational start to his sophomore season. Henderson also expressed interest this week in participating in the upcoming Home Run Derby, saying, “It’s something I’d like to try. It would be awesome to do it.”
No one questions Henderson’s power: His 26 homers are the second-most in MLB (behind Aaron Judge) and he leads all MLB players in fWAR, and his 26 homers are also easily the most by an Orioles shortstop with 16 games remaining before the All-Star break.
“His consistency is really impressive for such a young guy,” Grayson Rodriguez said. “We’re happy to have him on our team.”
By comparison, Orioles Hall of Fame shortstop Cal Ripken Jr. only topped 26 home runs in a season five times during his 16 seasons playing every day at the position. Henderson’s 26 home runs are tied for seventh all-time for most home runs in a season by a shortstop in Orioles history, and he’s eight shy of Ripken’s franchise record of 34 in 80 games (1991).
“We want to have as many guys with that as possible, guys with on-base ability and power,” Hyde said. “We’re fortunate to have guys with the speed and power to be leadoff hitters in most games and do a lot of stuff. That’s a nice luxury.”
The 22-year-old Henderson is on pace to hit 52 home runs this season. The only other MLB shortstop to tally 50 home runs in a season is Alex Rodriguez, who did it in 2001 and 2002.
“His damage [comes from]”He’s a great player,” said Guardians starter Carlos Carrasco, who hit Henderson’s 424-foot game-tying home run in the fifth inning. “He’s a good player.”
But Henderson’s precocious power doesn’t end there. He also leads the majors in runs scored (70) and is third in OPS (1.005) behind only Judge and Shohei Ohtani. He’s also stolen 13 bases and has been on a roll lately, batting .320/.442/.648 with 10 homers and 35 RBIs during his current on-base streak.
“It comes with experience,” Henderson said. “You figure out what you’re good at and what the pitcher is good at, and you take a swing at the pitches that the pitcher is throwing and you feel like you can help the team.”
