Gunnar Henderson

Gunnar Henderson is an American professional baseball shortstop and third baseman for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2022 and won the American League Rookie of the Year Award and a Silver Slugger Award in 2023. He was later named an All-Star in 2024.

Henderson's first major league hit was a home run off of Triston McKenzie Henderson batted .259 with four home runs and 18 RBIs in 34 games with the Orioles in 2022. Following the season, Henderson was named the 2022 Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year. The honor came after Henderson hit .297 with 19 home runs, 76 RBI, and 22 stolen bases in 112 games split between Bowie and Norfolk.

On June 11, 2023, Henderson hit a 462-foot home run against the Kansas City Royals, which was the farthest ever hit onto Eutaw Street in the 31-year history of Camden Yards. He had a pair of four-hit games in his rookie season, beginning with a 14–1 away win over the New York Yankees on July 6 when he also had two homers and five RBI within the first four innings. The other was a 12–1 victory over the Athletics at the Coliseum on August 20 when he was a single away from becoming the first rookie in Orioles history to hit for the cycle, but got his second double of the game instead. He went 6-for-12 as the Orioles' best hitter during the ballclub's American League Division Series (ALDS) loss to the Texas Rangers. He finished the 2023 regular season with 28 HRs, 82 RBI, .814 OPS, and .255 AVG. On October 26, 2023, The Sporting News announced Henderson as their AL Rookie of the Year. Henderson was named the 2023 Major League Baseball Players Association Outstanding Rookie of the Year. He won the American League's Silver Slugger Award for utility players. Henderson unanimously won the American League Rookie of the Year Award.

Henderson was awarded the March/April American League Player of the Month Award in recognition of his strong start to the 2024 season. In 29 games, Henderson slashed .291/.356/.624 with 10 home runs, 24 RBI and six stolen bases. A day after his 23rd birthday, Henderson announced that he would be taking part in the 2024 Home Run Derby. Henderson was selected to his first All-Star game in 2024.