On May 11, 2025, the Baltimore Orioles’ official X account sent fans into a frenzy with a post: “Gunnar Henderson gives the Orioles a 5-run lead with this towering shot!” Accompanied by a clip of the 23-year-old shortstop launching a mammoth home run against the Los Angeles Angels, the moment encapsulated Henderson’s electrifying 2025 season. The blast, a 428-foot shot to right-center, was his 27th homer of the year, further solidifying his status as the heartbeat of Baltimore’s lineup and a near-lock for his second straight All-Star nod. For Orioles fans, Henderson’s latest heroics are just another chapter in a campaign that’s cementing him as one of baseball’s brightest young stars.
Henderson’s 2025 season has been a masterclass in consistency and power. Through 86 games, he’s slashing .289/.382/.605 with 27 homers, 60 RBIs, 75 runs scored, and 13 stolen bases, per CBSSports.com. His .987 OPS ranks among the AL’s elite, and his 9.1 bWAR from 2024—already matched by a 5.2 fWAR this year—puts him on pace to challenge Cal Ripken Jr.’s franchise record for a single-season WAR. After missing the first seven games due to a right intercostal strain, Henderson returned on April 4 and hasn’t looked back, hitting .366 with five homers and 11 RBIs in his last 10 games. His May 11 homer, which gave Baltimore a commanding 6-1 lead in an eventual 8-3 win, was a testament to his ability to deliver in big moments.
The Orioles’ shortstop has been a catalyst for a team battling through early-season injuries to key players like Colton Cowser and Grayson Rodriguez. At 22-19, Baltimore sits third in the AL East, and Henderson’s leadoff prowess—evidenced by his 10 leadoff homers in 2024 and four more in 2025—has set the tone. His ability to combine power (37 HRs in 2024, projected for 40 in 2025) with speed (21 SBs last year) makes him a rare five-tool threat. Defensively, he’s improved at shortstop, posting 3 DRS and a .978 fielding percentage despite three errors during his Triple-A rehab stint. As manager Brandon Hyde told MLB.com, “Gunnar’s our engine. He’s doing things at 23 that most players dream of.”
Henderson’s All-Star case is ironclad. In 2024, he earned his first All-Star selection, starting for the AL and finishing fourth in MVP voting with a .281/.364/.529 line, 37 homers, and 92 RBIs. This year, he’s elevated his game further, leading AL shortstops in fWAR (5.2), wRC+ (156), and slugging (.605). His 27 homers tie him for second in the AL, and his 13 steals showcase his dynamic base-running. Compared to peers like Bobby Witt Jr. (4.8 fWAR, .580 SLG) and Corey Seager (.480 SLG), Henderson’s blend of power, defense, and consistency stands out. Fans on X, like
@MLBStats, have noted his historic pace, projecting a 40-homer season—a feat not achieved by an Orioles shortstop since Ripken’s 1991 MVP year.
The towering homer against the Angels wasn’t just a highlight; it was a microcosm of Henderson’s growth. Facing a 96-mph fastball from Griffin Canning, he turned on the pitch with a 109.7-mph exit velocity, per Statcast, sending it into the Camden Yards bleachers. It was his third homer in five games, part of a stretch where he’s gone 15-for-41 (.366). This hot streak follows a 2024 campaign where he set an Orioles record for most homers by a shortstop (35) and became the second Oriole to hit 10 leadoff homers in a season. As
@OptaSTATS posted on X in 2024, Henderson’s 20 homers as a 22-year-old leadoff-hitting shortstop made him the only player in MLB history to achieve that trifecta in a single season.
Off the field, Henderson’s story adds to his allure. The Selma, Alabama native, drafted 42nd overall in 2019, signed for $2.3 million and bypassed Auburn to join Baltimore’s rebuild. His rapid rise—2022 Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year, 2023 AL Rookie of the Year—has made him the face of the Orioles’ resurgence. With a $600 million contract projection looming, per BVM Sports, Henderson’s value is skyrocketing, and fans are clamoring for an extension to keep him in Baltimore long-term.
For Orioles fans, Henderson’s 2025 season is a beacon of hope amid a challenging start. His May 11 homer wasn’t just a five-run lead; it was a statement that he’s ready to carry this team. With the All-Star Game approaching, Henderson’s name is all but guaranteed to be on the AL roster. If he maintains this pace, he won’t just be an All-Star—he’ll be in the MVP conversation, and the Orioles will be riding his bat toward October. As Hyde said, “Gunnar’s special. He’s only getting better.”
