Gunnar Henderson discusses his great first half, the Orioles-Yankees battles, Cal Ripken Jr. and Aaron Judge (Exclusive)

After a slow start to 2023, the Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson broke out in the middle of last season, serving notice that he is one of the better young players in the game.

This year, the 23-year-old Henderson, with his flowing locks and 1980s-throwback mustache, has taken it a step further, solidifying his presence as a baseball superstar, regardless of age.

He’s a strong defender, has successfully stolen 14 of 15 bases and has hit 28 homers – matching in one half his total from his AL Rookie of the Year campaign. Only New York Yankees’ megastar Aaron Judge has a higher WAR in 2024.

Henderson, who is from a small town in Alabama, is taking it all in stride. He is still unfailingly polite – saying yessir and no sir in interviews – and he has committed to signing autographs before nearly every game this season.

He’s also deeply competitive, and along with fellow 2019 draftee, Adley Rutschman, has helped push the division-leading Orioles into position to defend their American League East crown. Henderson made his first All-Star team this year – and was elected as a starter – and participated in the Home Run Derby contest, in which he finished eighth of eight.

It’s been a year of firsts for Henderson, and he wants one more: To participate and win a World Series, something the Orioles haven’t achieved in 41 years.

Henderson agreed to a Q&A to discuss his tremendous season, the Orioles and Yankees clashes, legend Cal Ripken Jr. and budding legend Aaron Judge.

Heading into June of last year, you were struggling and there were concerns that maybe you should go back to the minors. Fast forward more than a year, and you are the reigning AL Rookie of the Year and a legitimate contender for AL MVP. Does that seem strange or surreal to you how quickly everything has changed?

Henderson: I wouldn’t say strange. I knew what I was capable of, and I still feel like I have a lot more to show out here. There is still a lot more that I can do better. There are a lot of things people don’t realize about (MLB). This game is a game of adjustments, and whenever you first get called up, you are gonna go through it. I know people want to see the best product on the field, but at the same time you also have got to let people develop. And I felt very fortunate that the Orioles let me do that up here, very glad I could get through it. And now that I’m on the other side of it, I’ve been able to take some of those experiences and use them for the better.

What do you think has allowed you to get to this point so quickly in your big-league career?

Henderson: The full year of experience definitely helped me a lot and then the confidence of having that full year of experience under the belt. Also, going into spring training this year, I was able to go in there and didn’t feel like I had to be 100 percent ready as soon as I got there. I was able to work on some things that I wanted to work on when and that allowed me to feel like I was ready leading up to the season rather than having to be ready for Day 1 (of spring training). That allowed me to keep my body healthy and allowed me to figure out what I wanted to work on.

In the second half of last year, we started talking to you about the possibility of winning AL Rookie of the Year, something that hadn’t happened for an Oriole since 1989. Now, you’re on the short list for AL MVP, something an Oriole hasn’t won since 1991. How much does that talk enter your mind?

Henderson: It’s cool to be considered for that at this point in the season. But there are still 60-plus games to go and that’s all I’m focused on: Make the playoffs and ultimately win a World Series. So, whatever comes with it, comes with it. But that’s my No. 1 goal: To win a World Series here.

You’ve made it to the All-Star Break and you’re second in both bWAR and fWAR, behind only Aaron Judge. You are ahead of Shohei Ohtani. What does that company mean to you?

Henderson: It’s definitely awesome to be up there with them. But at the same time, I’ve always felt I could be at this point someday. It’s just the self-motivation that I have, and the hard work that I feel I’ve been putting in. There’s still a lot of work to go, but I’m making steps in the right direction.

One more comparison question: The only player in Orioles franchise history to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in consecutive seasons was Hall of Fame shortstop Cal Ripken Jr., someone you have gotten to know a little. What would it mean to join him on that list?

Henderson: It would mean the world. Obviously, he is one of the best to do it. His career has shown that. And with him having the will to come out here and give me pointers and stuff, that’s a testament to him. I can’t thank him enough for everything he’s done for me. He’s been willing to chat it up. Why not learn as much as you can from him?

Speaking of great players, Judge has said some nice things about you recently. What has it been like to watch him up close this season?

Henderson: He’s unreal. It seems like any time the ball’s in the zone it is going to be hit hard. He tends to be pitched around a lot; I guess that comes with it when you don’t miss those (hittable) pitches. He’s an unreal hitter and he’s been that for however many years he’s been in the league. He’s just fun to watch.

Do you watch him more closely than others when he’s at the plate?

Henderson: When I’m in the game, I’m just trying to get that guy out any way I can and help the pitcher. But it’s definitely cool watching him. But when he is playing us, I like seeing him get out.

The Orioles played the Yankees to finish out the first half, and you are currently in first place by a game and up 6-4 in the season series. When you signed with Baltimore, the Yankees had consistently pounded this team. What’s it like now knowing you can compete with – and even beat them – consistently?

Henderson: We have kind of proven that we are right up there, and we’re a really competitive team no matter who we play. That has been our m.o. ever since we started to make that comeback in 2022. I feel like we haven’t looked back since. We’re going out there and playing our game and we know it’s gonna be a tough game every time they play us.

In that last series, benches cleared due to a beaning of your teammate Heston Kjerstad. Their pitchers have hit your batters 10 times this season, including you twice. Do you feel like they’ve tried to intimidate some of the young guys on your club?

Henderson: I wouldn’t say intimidate. If they want to hit us and get us on base, so be it. We’re gonna go out there and put our best foot forward. If they want to hit us, then I’m gonna try to steal a base and get in scoring position for the guy behind me. So, that just comes with it. And we’re not backing down from anyone.

Much has been said about how close this group is and how many of you have come up together. How much fun has it been not only to win but win with these guys?

Henderson: It’s just a great group of guys. They’re really fun to be around. It makes for an enjoyable clubhouse atmosphere. Whenever you get in the dog days of summer, you need those kinds of guys in the clubhouse that mesh together to win some ballgames.

Going with the fun concept, you had cleats with Legos dangling on them highlighted during Sunday Night Baseball recently. When did the whole Lego fascination start with you and how did it morph into the building competition against Colton Cowser?

Henderson: We just started one time. I think it was 2022 spring training. I was chilling in the hotel room with my now fiancée and we decided to go to Target one day, and we walked by that section, and I was like, “Legos would be cool to do.” And Cowser had an interest in it as well. And now, ever since then, every time we leave spring, we always get a big one and whoever finishes it first gets bragging rights for the year.

What’s the status of the competition?

Henderson: From the way he makes it sound, I’m heavily in the lead right now.

Have to ask about your mustache, which has gotten a lot of mileage and ribbing this year. Is this gonna be a permanent look?

Henderson: Yeah, for the rest of this year, I feel like. When it comes to the offseason, I mean, it gets a little scratchy every now and then, so I’ll probably have to shave it off then. But for the season, it will be here.

Anything else about this team and the expectations you have?

Henderson: I expect to win a lot more ballgames and make a really good postseason run. And hopefully, a World Series run.