Orioles GM Names Shock Instance for Gunnar Henderson’s Comeback

The Baltimore Orioles‘ most necessary offseason enchancment would possibly already be on their roster.

New common supervisor Jared Banner supplied an intriguing cause to maintain believing in Gunnar Henderson, pointing to a participant whose improvement he watched intently with the Chicago Cubs.

As MASN’s Roch Kubatko reported October 29, Banner introduced up Pete Crow-Armstrong when requested Tuesday about serving to Henderson regain his earlier type.

The comparability was about continued enchancment, somewhat than a particular swing adjustment. Nonetheless, it offers Baltimore an fascinating method to body a winter that may contain greater than looking for gamers.

Henderson completed 2026 with 24 homers and a .712 OPS, in response to his MLB’s participant web page.

These numbers clarify why enhancing a longtime cornerstone might matter as a lot as an attention-grabbing acquisition.

Jared Banner Factors to a Cubs Breakthrough

Crow-Armstrong was already an completed participant earlier than taking one other step ahead. Banner’s level was that a powerful season mustn’t develop into a ceiling.

“We’re not placing any ceilings on any of those guys,” Banner stated, in response to MASN.

That’s an encouraging message for Orioles followers. It is usually an early assertion of expectations from an government whose work will likely be judged by what occurs after the introductory press convention.

The excellence issues. A comparability doesn’t set up that Henderson and Crow-Armstrong have an identical issues, improvement paths or eventual outcomes.

It suggests Baltimore’s new GM sees room for substantial development, even from gamers who’ve already reached the majors and earned recognition.

For Henderson, the subsequent helpful query is what that help appears to be like like as soon as the offseason work begins.

Gunnar Henderson’s Numbers Establish the Problem

The Baltimore Banner’s October 5 evaluation provides a extra particular image of the shortstop’s difficulties.

Andy Kostka reported that Henderson’s chase charge climbed to 30.4% in 2026, in contrast with 23.2% in 2024. His common exit velocity additionally declined between these seasons.

These indicators make plate selections and high quality of contact smart areas to look at. They don’t, by themselves, establish one adjustment that may resolve all the pieces.

Henderson additionally mentioned how troublesome vital adjustments could be throughout a season, when preparation should compete with going through elite pitching each evening.

An offseason creates room to work with out instantly measuring each experiment in opposition to that evening’s field rating.

For readers monitoring Baltimore’s winter, that gives a helpful different to evaluating progress solely via transactions. Comply with the acquisition information, but additionally look ahead to concrete explanations of Henderson’s preparation and method.

That additionally adjustments how followers can decide the brand new entrance workplace. A productive winter would come with a clearer improvement course of, measurable objectives and proof that gamers perceive their assignments, alongside the additions anticipated to enhance the roster earlier than subsequent season begins.

The Orioles have a well-known participant with the next stage to chase. Banner has provided the expectation. The following improvement value watching is how Baltimore turns that expectation right into a sensible plan.

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