KANSAS CITY -- Gunnar Henderson watched the first seven Orioles games this season like most fans -- on television.
Henderson¡¯s first injured list stint of his four-year career -- due to a right intercostal strain sustained on Feb. 27 -- came to an end when he was activated from Triple-A Norfolk on Friday. And the 2024 All-Star Game starter was as glad as anyone to get back on the field.
¡°Yeah, it sucks having to watch your team play on TV, I¡¯ll tell you that much,¡± Henderson said prior to the Orioles¡¯ game against the Royals at Kauffman Stadium. ¡°Obviously, I was very disappointed I wasn¡¯t well enough for the Opening Day roster, but I was able to get my work in and I feel ready to go now.
¡°It was definitely different because that was the first time I had to do that. Definitely not as fun watching it, I would much rather be playing in it.¡±
The 23-year-old, who hit .281 with 37 homers, 31 doubles, seven triples and 92 RBIs in a team-high 159 games last season, will provide an immediate boost to the Orioles¡¯ lineup. He was slated to bat leadoff and play shortstop in his season debut in Kansas City.
¡°It was exciting to see him today,¡± manager Brandon Hyde said. ¡°I talked to him a few days ago, and he felt good. Got a nice little day off yesterday, kind of a planned off-day following his rehab, and he feels good physically. He feels ready to go and we are excited to put him in there tonight.¡±
Henderson, who finished fourth in the American League MVP race last season, will have his right side put to the test immediately with 40-degree, rainy and windy conditions for Friday night¡¯s contest. The tarp was removed a few hours pregame, and Henderson took infield grounders in the mist with no issues.
¡°I¡¯m hoping it¡¯s not too wet and cold, but we will see how it goes,¡± Hyde said. ¡°It sounds like there¡¯s going to be some drizzle, but [Gunnar] doesn¡¯t care. He¡¯s going to play in anything right now.¡±
The two-time reigning Most Valuable Oriole winner played just three Grapefruit League games during Spring Training, going 1-for-6 before he sustained his injury on a leaping catch. Henderson began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk on March 28 and made five starts for the Tides -- four at shortstop and one at designated hitter -- and went 5-for-19 (.263) with two home runs, four RBIs, a walk and two runs scored. He did make three errors (.824 fielding percentage) during his 28 2/3 innings at shortstop in Triple-A, though.
But it¡¯s Henderson¡¯s bat that the Orioles are most excited about slotting atop the lineup every game. Henderson¡¯s return deepened an already strong offense, which entered Friday¡¯s game sixth in MLB in home runs (11), eighth in runs scored (36) and fifth in average (.277) through their first seven games, despite scoring two runs or less three times in seven games. Ryan Mountcastle, who hit cleanup the past two contests, was moved down to No. 8 in Henderson¡¯s return. To make room on the roster, outfielder Dylan Carlson was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk.
With their star shortstop back in the lineup, the Orioles are expecting to find more consistency with their offensive production.
¡°We had our ups and downs the first two series, and it¡¯s nice to have Gunnar back,¡± Hyde said. ¡°We are going to find our identity as the season goes along. ¡
¡°We should be a deep lineup. We should be tough outs all the way down the order. We should present some problems for opposing pitchers, as well as guys coming out of the bullpen, [as] they have to kind of pick. ¡ I feel like we haven¡¯t clicked offensively yet, we¡¯ve had some really nice games offensively, but this team could be a really good offense.¡±