Gunnar Henderson

BIOGRAPHY

Gunnar Henderson was born June 29, 2001, in Montgomery, Alabama. He is an infielder in the MLB.

Henderson committed to play college baseball at Auburn during his sophomore season. As a senior, he was named the state player of the year after batting .559 with 17 doubles, nine triples, 11 home runs, 69 runs scored and 75 RBIs while stealing 32 bases. Henderson was also named the Alabama Independent School Association Player of the Year in basketball after 17 points and 11 rebounds per game.

Henderson was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the second round of the 2019 Major League Baseball draft with the 42nd overall pick. Henderson signed with the team after agreeing to a contract that included a $2.3 million signing bonus. After signing he was assigned to the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Orioles. Henderson finished his first professional season with a .259 batting average and one home run with 11 RBIs. After the 2020 minor league season was canceled due to Covid-19, Henderson was added to the Orioles' alternate training site midway through the Major League season and then took part in the team's fall Instructional League. Henderson was named the best overall athlete in the Orioles' minor league system going into the 2021 season. He began the season with the Low-A Delmarva Shorebirds, where he batted .312 with 11 doubles, a triple, eight home runs and 39 RBIs in 35 games before being promoted to the High-A Aberdeen IronBirds.

The Orioles selected Henderson's contract on August 31, 2022, and promoted him to the active roster. He made the starting roster later that day, in a game against the Cleveland Guardians. His first major league hit occurred that same day resulting in a home run. Henderson batted .259 with four home runs and 18 RBIs in 34 games with the Orioles in 2022.

On October 26, 2023, The Sporting News announced Henderson as their AL Rookie of the Year. Henderson was named the 2023 Major League Baseball Players Association Outstanding Rookie of the Year. He won the American League's Silver Slugger Award for utility players. Henderson unanimously won the AL Rookie of the Year Award.