The Baltimore Orioles are banking on their star shortstop, Gunnar Henderson, to help steer them back on course after a rough 2025 season that saw them finish at the bottom of the American League East. Henderson, who dazzled as an All-Star in 2024, faced a slump last year. Despite this, he earned a spot on Team USA for the World Baseball Classic.
While Henderson wasn't the first-choice shortstop-playing backup to Bobby Witt Jr.-he didn't shy away from advocating for more time on the field. Determined to showcase his talents, he approached manager Mark DeRosa, eager to prove his impact on the game.
Though Witt retained the starting role, Henderson made his presence felt. He took the field frequently, showing off his skills at third base and emerging as one of Team USA's standout hitters.
His stats were impressive: a .400 batting average with 6 hits in 15 at-bats, including 2 home runs and 4 RBIs over 4 games. Reflecting on his experience, Henderson expressed a desire for more playing time, saying, “I mean, the competitor in me, yeah.
So, yeah, I wish I could have gotten in there a little bit more, but just wasn’t the way the cards came out.”
As the Orioles look to bounce back in 2026, they're hoping that Henderson can recapture his All-Star form. After surprising playoff appearances in 2023 and '24, their last-place finish was a shock. To bolster their lineup, they've added slugger Pete Alonso through free agency, aiming to inject some power and spark into the team.