Gunnar Henderson’s Historic Run
The Baltimore Orioles have been taking Major League Baseball by storm this year. After going 101-61 in 2023, they definitely had high expectations going into 2024. I think it’s fair to say that they’ve been living up to, if not exceeding, expectations so far. The Orioles sit atop the American League East with a record of 20-11, three of those wins coming in a recent series victory over the New York Yankees, who previously held the AL East crown. Though it’s very early in the season, it’s fair to say that the Orioles have been showcasing their ability to be a contending team down the stretch. Their success can be partially attributed to their prodigy of a shortstop; Gunnar Henderson.
The 2023 American League Rookie of the Year has been on a scorching hot run to start the 2024 season. On Monday (4/29), Henderson became the youngest player in Major League Baseball history to hit 10 home runs before May 1st. Henderson is currently posting a slash of .281/.346/.603. He is also tied with Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout for the American League lead in home runs, with 10, as well as being tied for eighth in the league in RBIs, with 24. He has amassed 18 hits in his last 15 games, as of May 2nd. Fanduel currently holds Henderson with the second-best odds to win the 2024 American League MVP (+370), only trailing the Yankees’ Juan Soto(+230).
Henderson’s success this year has been an excitement to watch. Though they are a team with great depth, as the Orioles look to stay atop the competitive AL East, his success will likely positively correlate with theirs. Though they have a loaded farm system, with their number one prospect Jackson Holiday not panning out successfully in his first few weeks in the Majors. Though of course, this is just the beginning for Holiday, the role that the young stars like Henderson, Adley Rutschman, and Colton Cowser play will continue to dictate the Orioles’ success. Whether Henderson continues to play at this historic pace or not, Baltimore should continue to be one of the most exciting teams to watch for the 2024 MLB season.
