This story was excerpted from Jake Rill’s Orioles Beat publication. To learn the total publication, click on right here. And subscribe to get it repeatedly in your inbox.
ARLINGTON — MLB All-Star groups are crammed with the very best gamers within the sport, cut up up into two rosters for the American League and Nationwide League. For 2 days, regular-season foes develop into All-Star buddies.
Throughout Monday’s All-Star Media Day at Globe Life Discipline in Arlington, Yankees outfielder Aaron Decide was posed with an attention-grabbing query by one of many many reporters in attendance.
If he might choose one All-Star participant (who isn’t a Yankee) to develop into teammates with for actual, whom would Decide select?
There wasn’t a lot hesitation within the slugger’s reply.
“Nicely, simply watching him — we simply performed in Baltimore — Gunnar Henderson,” Decide stated. “Seeing what he’s doing for them — they’re in first place, doing their factor — [it’s] simply spectacular to look at at-bat after at-bat. He works his walks. He performs nice protection. Hits the ball out of the ballpark. Hits for common. Nice instincts on the basepaths, man. He’s a particular expertise, for positive.”
Decide wasn’t the one participant from one other workforce to share reward of Henderson — who has emerged as a high AL MVP contender for Baltimore this yr — through the week of All-Star festivities. The 23-year-old shortstop has clearly made fairly an impression on his opponents since he made his huge league debut on Aug. 31, 2022.
“He’s a famous person,” Rays infielder Isaac Paredes stated through an interpreter. “You may inform that the expertise is there.”
Henderson has solely gotten higher in 2024. Over 95 video games within the first half, he slashed .286/.373/.584 with 18 doubles, 5 triples, a career-high-tying 28 residence runs, 63 RBIs, 14 stolen bases and an AL-best 78 runs scored. Henderson went 4-for-5 with 4 singles in Friday’s 9-1 win over Texas to open the second half.
“He’s been completely killing it this yr. He’s right here for a purpose,” Crimson Sox right-hander Tanner Houck stated. “He’s exhibiting off the facility much more this yr, 28 bombs already earlier than the break. Want him better of luck within the second half, for positive. It’s been enjoyable to look at thus far.”
At Monday’s T-Cell Dwelling Run Derby, Henderson had a short debut look, as he hit 11 residence runs and was eradicated within the first spherical. Nevertheless, it was nonetheless a chance for him to compete in a nationwide highlight.
“So cool to look at him — like simply the whole yr typically, and like his total profession, however particularly [that] night time,” stated catcher Adley Rutschman, Henderson’s O’s teammate. “That’s simply one other second that you simply’re like, ‘Wow. Have a look at him go.’ Simply such a cool factor to see.”
Henderson went 0-for-2 in his first All-Star Recreation on Tuesday. However he made a nifty play at shortstop within the fourth inning, when he made a pleasant backhanded cease on a grounder and retired the Padres’ Jurickson Profar for the ultimate out of the body.
Henderson was considered one of 37 first-time All-Stars, together with a fellow AL shortstop who recommended his counterpart.
“Simply the way in which he performs the sport, it’s superior,” Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. stated. “What he does each on and off the sector, the man he’s — it’s actually enjoyable to look at, and I’m a fan of his.”
