Orioles GM Names Shock Instance for Gunnar Henderson’s Comeback

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

New basic 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, quite than a selected swing adjustment. Nonetheless, it offers Baltimore an attention-grabbing strategy to body a winter that can contain greater than searching for gamers.

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

These numbers clarify why bettering a longtime cornerstone may 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 grow to be a ceiling.

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

That’s an encouraging message for Orioles followers. It’s also an early assertion of expectations from an government whose work might 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 similar 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 following helpful query is what that assist seems to be like as soon as the offseason work begins.

Gunnar Henderson’s Numbers Determine the Problem

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

Andy Kostka reported that Henderson’s chase fee 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 wise areas to observe. They don’t, by themselves, establish one adjustment that can resolve all the things.

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

An offseason creates room to work with out instantly measuring each experiment towards that night time’s field rating.

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

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-recognized participant with a better degree to chase. Banner has provided the expectation. The subsequent improvement price watching is how Baltimore turns that expectation right into a sensible plan.

Like HEAVY’s content material? Be sure you observe us.

This text was initially revealed on HEAVY

The publish Orioles GM Names Shock Instance for Gunnar Henderson’s Comeback appeared first on HEAVY.