The Baltimore Orioles have a handful of breakout stars, but none is outperforming Gunnar Henderson.
Henderson is among the best young players in the league and has a chance to win the AL MVP award.
Bleacher Report’s Brandon Scott listed the soon-to-be 23-year-old as one of the leagues 10 defining players from this season so far.
As Scott mentioned, if Henderson were to go on to win the MVP, he would be just the seventh player to win the MVP and Rookie of the Year in their first two seasons.
One of the other players on that list just so happens to be Baltimore’s Cal Ripken Jr.
Ripken had an incredible second season that made it undeniable that he would win the MVP. He had 8.2 WAR and led the league with 211 hits. He had both average and power, hitting 27 home runs withs a .318 BA. The Orioles legend went on to win a second MVP and is now in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Henderson isn’t having the same success in terms of batting average, but has flashed much more power than anyone could have expected.
Projected to hit 22 home runs before the season, the shortstop already has 12. He’s on pace to hit around 47. That’s even after a revent seven game stretch without hitting one.
He hit 28 home runs last season, so it’s not a huge surprise that he has power, it just wasn’t expected this season.
The Alabama native is currently tied for sixth in WAR this season across the entire MLB and tied for third in the AL though it is a close race for first.
FanDuel currently has his odds at fourth to win the AL award. He’s behind Juan Soto, Bobby Witt Jr., and Aaron Judge.
Even if he doesn’t join Ripken in the exclusive club of players to pull it off, the future is very bright for the Baltimore superstar.
