Infielder Gunnar Henderson will enter his fifth MLB season in 2025 as the most exciting player on the Baltimore Orioles. The 23-year-old shortstop burst onto the scene in 2023, winning AL Rookie of the Year, and followed that up with an MVP-caliber campaign in 2024, finishing fourth in voting while earning his first All-Star selection.
After such an impressive start, Henderson took a modest step back last season. He remained productive, but his power dipped noticeably, posting a .274 batting average, a .349 on-base percentage and a .787 OPS, with 17 home runs and 68 RBIs across 154 games. That total was 20 fewer home runs than the 37 he launched in 2024.
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Baseball Reference projects Henderson to rebound slightly in 2025, forecasting a .276 batting average, a .353 on-base percentage, an .839 OPS, 24 home runs and 73 RBIs. While those numbers suggest his power may remain relatively muted, there are reasons to believe he can exceed those expectations. Henderson barreled balls at a higher rate in 2023 and 2024, and if he can recapture that swing efficiency, his home run totals could climb back toward the 30-plus range. His ability to adjust and generate consistent hard contact will be critical.
For Baltimore, Henderson’s performance is central to their hopes of returning to the postseason. The Orioles’ lineup relies on his blend of power, patience and athleticism, and a resurgence from their young star could be the difference between simply competing and truly contending in the American League.
Henderson’s journey began when the Orioles selected him in the second round of the 2019 MLB Draft. His athleticism and advanced hitting skills quickly made him one of Baltimore’s most promising prospects.
By 2022, he had climbed through three levels of the minors and debuted in the majors, instantly becoming a key piece of the Orioles’ rebuild. His rise coincided with the emergence of other young stars such as Adley Rutschman, Jordan Westburg and Colton Cowser, forming the foundation of Baltimore’s future.
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Henderson’s versatility, playing both shortstop and third base, has given the Orioles valuable flexibility, but his bat remains the focal point of his game. Entering 2025, his performance will be crucial to Baltimore’s hopes of returning to the postseason.
If he can rediscover the power stroke that made him an MVP candidate in 2024, Henderson could anchor the lineup and push the Orioles back into contention. He will also benefit from added protection in the batting order with the arrival of first baseman Pete Alonso, who signed a five-year, $155 million deal to become Baltimore’s everyday presence at first. Alonso’s proven power and durability should ease pressure on Henderson, giving the young star more opportunities to thrive in the heart of the lineup.