Baltimore Celebrates Henderson’s New Record
Hey, Baltimore! What a night it was at Oriole Park as our very own Gunnar Henderson made headlines by hitting his 35th home run of the season this past Wednesday. This wasnโt just any home run; it was a big deal because it officially put him ahead of some major Orioles legends. Yep, you heard that right! Cal Ripken Jr. and Miguel Tejada now take a back seat as Henderson claimed the title for the most single-season home runs by a shortstop in Orioles history.
Breaking Records
So, how did it all go down? Letโs set the scene. The O’s were trailing the Chicago White Sox with a score of 1-0 when Henderson stepped up to bat in the first inning. With a 3-1 count against him, White Sox pitcher Jonathan Cannon threw a 90 mph cutter over the plate. And just like that, Henderson didnโt just hit itโhe sent it flying into the right centerfield stands for a stunning solo home run!
Unfortunately, the excitement ended there for the Orioles. That home run turned out to be the only run they managed to score, and the game wrapped up with a disappointing 8-1 loss. Ouch! This defeat put the O’s in a first-place tie in the AL East with the New York Yankees, which adds a little more heat to the competition, right?
Whatโs Going On with Henderson?
Even though the game didnโt go as planned for the team, thereโs no denying that Henderson’s season is turning into something pretty special. After snagging the American League Rookie of the Year award in 2023, heโs only taken things up a notch this year. In his rookie season, he slashed a decent .255/.325/.489 with 28 home runs and 82 RBIs. But right now? Heโs bursting with a sizzling .280/.367/.536 line, along with 35 home runs, 84 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases.
Itโs crazy to think heโs achieved all of this in just his second full MLB season! With 21 games left in the season, thereโs still plenty of time for Henderson to keep building on his impressive stats.
Henderson’s Perspective
After the game, Henderson reflected on his big moment, and itโs clear this record means a lot to him. “Itโs definitely something that Iโm going to hold very dear to me. To pass those guys in something, in any type of Orioles history, is pretty special,” he said. You can see how passionate he is about the game and what it means to be part of the Orioles legacy.
Looking Ahead
Now that heโs made a mark in team history, Henderson has his sights set on a bigger picture: the playoffs. Imagine how exhilarating it would be if he could help lead the Orioles to postseason glory. With that kind of mindset, itโs clear that Henderson isnโt just playing for records; heโs playing for something much biggerโthe chance to make an impact in the postseason record books.
As fans of Baltimore, itโs exciting to see young athletes like Henderson stepping up and pushing the boundaries of greatness. Hereโs hoping that thereโs more magic in store for Orioles fans as the season continues!
