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Read Full BioGunnar Henderson has already emerged as one of the top stars in Major League Baseball through his first two full seasons in the league, but this has been a trying one.
The 23-year-old burst onto the scene as the AL Rookie of the Year in 2023, leading the Baltimore Orioles to 101 wins and a division title. He followed that up his first All-Star bid in 2024 while leading the Orioles back into the playoffs for the second consecutive season.
However, the 2025 season has been the exact opposite for the team, with Baltimore only recently snapping an eight-game losing streak. They’re off to a 16-32 start, the worst mark in the AL East and the second-worst mark in the American League.
The team recently fired Brandon Hyde, who helped turn the franchise around while winning AL Manager of the Year honors in 2023.
“He showed me the ropes from day one as a rookie,” says Henderson of Hyde’s influence on him in an exclusive interview with Casino Beats. “He gave me insights on the game and what to expect and how to approach it.”
The star shortstop himself is having a bit of a difficult season after turning in one of the biggest batting seasons by a shortstop in MLB history. Henderson set an Orioles franchise record with 37 home runs for a shortstop. It was also the 17th-most home runs by a shortstop in a single season in MLB history.
After turning in a .281/.364/.529 season last year, Henderson is at .257/.307/.455 so far this year.
“It’s definitely a learning experience, because I’ve never had something quite like this,” says Henderson. “I know it’ll ultimately help down the road. Hopefully (I’ll) get this thing turned around and have a great rest of the season.”
Henderson is currently part of a shortstop revolution of sorts with himself, the Kansas City Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr. and the Cincinnati Reds’ Elly De La Cruz all emerging as top players in the major leagues at the position.
While Henderson obviously demonstrates a lot of power, he says he didn’t model his game after any single player or shortstop. However, he did look up to guys like Chipper Jones and Corey Seager.
“I wouldn’t say model my game after, but I was always in some comparisons to Corey Seager growing up, and then I really like Chipper Jones as well,” says Henderson. “I know he’s played third base the majority of time in his career. Those are two guys that I enjoyed watching.”
Henderson says he wants to be more “consistent” in all facets of the game. He particularly points at continuing to develop “defensively.” Henderson converts some highlight-worthy plays at the position, but he’s not considered a Gold Glove talent at the position yet such as Witt Jr.
“Biggest thing for me is continuing to develop defensively,” says Henderson. “Feel like there’s a lot of room to grow, and then just staying consistent at the plate. I feel like that’s the biggest thing for me is just control the zone, get the pitch I want to hit, and then just get my swing off. I feel like doing that day in and day out, it will help me a lot.”
While the Orioles’ playoff hopes look bleak right now — they’re 13.5 games behind the New York Yankees for the AL East lead and 10.5 games behind for the last Wild Card spot — there’s still four months left in the season. That gives hope to Henderson, who says the objective is to still make it to the playoffs.
“You definitely have to find ways to do that,” says Henderson of pumping yourself up every game during a 162-game season. “Especially on some of the day games on the back half of the season, it gets to be a grind at that time, but that’s when you enjoy being around the guys that you have in the clubhouse. They make life a lot easier whenever you’re enjoying being around them.”
Henderson: I’m Not Superstitious, Will Switch Things Up
Henderson says that he’s not “superstitious” and doesn’t have a set routine like some players. He adapts to whatever works best.
“I try not to be,” says Henderson when it comes to superstitions and a set routine. “I try to just go with how my body’s feeling, so I don’t get the same exact movements each and every day. Whenever I get loose and get stretched out in the weight room and stuff. I feel like the biggest thing for me is just taking care of what I feel like my body needs, and then ultimately, hitting-wise, just try to keep to a good routine.
“If I feel like I need to switch something up to it, then I switch it up,” Henderson continues to say. “Just try to go out there and let my body tell me what it needs and kind of adapt to that.”
The former AL Rookie of the Year says the biggest challenge of a 162-game season is the “longevity” of it.
“The longevity of it — that is a very long season,” says Henderson. “That’s the biggest thing is being able to take care of your body, to be ready to go on each and every day. I feel like that’s the best ability is availability. I know that’s said a lot, but it rings true, especially in a 162-game season.”
We’ll see if Henderson and the Orioles can turn things around as they aim for their third consecutive playoff season.
