Well, after all that, it ended up being seven games that the Orioles were without all-world shortstop Gunnar Henderson to begin the 2025 season.
Henderson, 23, suffered a strained intercostal (ribs, basically) muscle lunging for a line drive back in late February. He missed the remainder of the Grapefruit League schedule, then began the season on rehab assignment with AAA Norfolk. With the Tides, Gunnar was 5-for-19 with two home runs and four driven in. He launched this moonshot Tuesday night in Charlotte:
Light Pole Saves Charlotte Street Walkers From Henderson Homer pic.twitter.com/ZEvCjSrh7P
— Norfolk Tides (@NorfolkTides) April 1, 2025
With Norfolk playing Wednesday night as well, and the Orioles scheduled for a 1:05 start on Thursday, it would have seemed prudent to have Henderson head to Baltimore following Tuesday’s game. That way, he could be activated as soon as he was eligible, which would have been ahead of yesterday’s loss to Boston. Yet the Big Brains in The Warehouse had him play on Wednesday in Charlotte as well, and then meet the team on the road in Kansas City.
Would it have mattered in an 8-4 loss? Probably not, but that doesn’t mean we have to like it.
To make room, OF Dylan Carlson was optioned back to Norfolk.
In Gunnar’s absence, the Orioles offense has been just as inconsistent as it was to close out the final months of 2024. They’ve scored 12, 9, and 8 runs in their three wins, and 2, 1, and 4 in their three losses. Hopefully the addition of a bat that put up a 155 wRC+ (139 career) and 37 home runs will help bolster this offense to more regular explosions.
As much as many in Birdland want to complain about the pitching (and I do get it), the fact is that this team, as currently constructed, needs to win by mashing baseballs.
Thanks to Colton Cowser breaking his thumb in a boneheaded decision to dive into first base last Sunday, the lineup still isn’t at full strength, but Henderson should help mightily in that department.
Welcome back, Gunnar!
Alexa, queue up Sweet Escape by Gwen Stefani.
Now, I beg: let’s get some (sort of empty) revenge on the Royals.
