Baltimore Orioles star Gunnar Henderson is the proper instance of why groups should be affected person with prime prospects.
Common prospects have extra variance: some may pan out, others received’t.
Nonetheless, the vast majority of prime prospects have some at the very least some success and their upside is appreciable.
When Henderson made his MLB debut in 2022, he hit .259/.348/.440 in a 116 at-bat pattern.
Then, in 2023, he received the AL Rookie of the 12 months award by hitting a cool .255/.325/.489 with 28 residence runs and a .814 OPS over a full season.
The 2024 marketing campaign, nonetheless, has been the one wherein he really reached prime participant standing, the extent the O’s dreamed he would attain after they drafted and developed him.
Henderson is at the moment slashing an unimaginable .274/.375/.599 with 21 residence runs and a .974 OPS… from the leadoff spot!
He’s truly on tempo for some gaudy numbers, as MLB Community famous in a latest tweet.
He might even be a part of former MLB star Alex Rodriguez in an unique membership.
Gunnar is on a WILD tempo proper now 🤯 pic.twitter.com/tQUArBkvPz
Henderson is on tempo for 52 lengthy balls and 115 RBI.
The one shortstop to log a 50-homer season (or extra) is A-Rod.
No different shortstop did it, within the historical past of the sport.
He hit 57 dingers in 2002 with the Texas Rangers.
He hit 54 in 2007 with the New York Yankees, however he had transformed to 3rd base by then.
Henderson, if he retains up his present tempo, might doubtlessly be a part of him.
What he’s doing has no precedents for a leadoff hitter.
He’s only a particular participant on a particular crew, able to struggle for particular issues each collectively and individually.