- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,264,452
- Reaction score
- 59
Gunnar Henderson reached a major personal milestone during the Baltimore Orioles win on Friday against the San Diego Padres. Henderson had a strong game, reaching base in all four plate appearances and scoring twice while collecting an RBI.
However, the most memorable moment came in the fourth inning, when Henderson launched a solo home run, officially ending a 14-game home run drought and giving him his 100th career home run. At just 24 years old, Henderson is the fourth-youngest player in franchise history to accomplish the feat (h/t Jake Rill of MLB.com).
After the game, when speaking with reporters, Henderson commented on the milestone (via Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun). When asked if he ever imagined reaching 100 home runs at 24 years old, said, "It's hard to say you're gonna go up to the big leagues and hit 100 homers, so I feel like yes and no, but I like to hold myself to high standards. I like to think I can achieve these things."
It is safe to say that despite the positive moment, Henderson is not having the year he anticipated. It is reassuring to see he is still a huge power threat, but every other number has dropped.
He owns a .226 batting average, .293 on-base percentage and .714 OPS, which grades out as a league-average hitter. That is not going to cut it given his standards, considering he is a former American League Rookie of the Year, All-Star and Silver Slugger who has also finished in the top five of AL MVP voting.
The Orioles added plenty of talent this winter, but a lot of it stemmed from the expectation that Henderson would still be one of the best players in the league, and he has not been. His struggles are a huge reason Baltimore sits three games under .500 nearing the midway point of the season.
However, there is still reason for optimism. Not only are the Orioles in the midst of a three-game winning streak, but Henderson is starting to look more like himself in June, posting a .268 batting average, .400 on-base percentage and .790 OPS in 11 games, while also cutting down on the strikeouts.
If Henderson can build on this stretch and rediscover the form that made him one of the most feared hitters in the league, Baltimore's offense could look drastically different heading into the second half.
Continue reading...
However, the most memorable moment came in the fourth inning, when Henderson launched a solo home run, officially ending a 14-game home run drought and giving him his 100th career home run. At just 24 years old, Henderson is the fourth-youngest player in franchise history to accomplish the feat (h/t Jake Rill of MLB.com).
After the game, when speaking with reporters, Henderson commented on the milestone (via Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun). When asked if he ever imagined reaching 100 home runs at 24 years old, said, "It's hard to say you're gonna go up to the big leagues and hit 100 homers, so I feel like yes and no, but I like to hold myself to high standards. I like to think I can achieve these things."
It is safe to say that despite the positive moment, Henderson is not having the year he anticipated. It is reassuring to see he is still a huge power threat, but every other number has dropped.
He owns a .226 batting average, .293 on-base percentage and .714 OPS, which grades out as a league-average hitter. That is not going to cut it given his standards, considering he is a former American League Rookie of the Year, All-Star and Silver Slugger who has also finished in the top five of AL MVP voting.
The Orioles added plenty of talent this winter, but a lot of it stemmed from the expectation that Henderson would still be one of the best players in the league, and he has not been. His struggles are a huge reason Baltimore sits three games under .500 nearing the midway point of the season.
However, there is still reason for optimism. Not only are the Orioles in the midst of a three-game winning streak, but Henderson is starting to look more like himself in June, posting a .268 batting average, .400 on-base percentage and .790 OPS in 11 games, while also cutting down on the strikeouts.
If Henderson can build on this stretch and rediscover the form that made him one of the most feared hitters in the league, Baltimore's offense could look drastically different heading into the second half.
Continue reading...
