“From Underdog to Star: The Remarkable Journey of Gunnar Henderson in Major League Baseball”

On the afternoon of June 3, 2019, around 50 individuals assembled in the backyard ⁤of⁤ a home​ in Valley Grande, Ala. Under a⁣ blazing sun on a ⁤92-degree day that showed no indications of cooling off, attendees gathered by⁣ the pool, snacking ‍on chips, dip, and⁣ pizza.

Kerry and Allen Henderson were uncertain about⁤ joining the party. Hosted by a friend, this‍ gathering ‍was meant to celebrate‍ Major League Baseball’s ‍annual draft, with their 17-year-old‍ son, Gunnar, among those ‌hoping to be chosen. They felt nervous ⁣and questioned whether they should have‍ simply stayed home.⁤ However, the host, Terry Waters, had previously conducted batting practice⁣ for Gunnar in front of ‌MLB scouts who ​traveled‌ to their small nearby town of Selma, which ​has around 16,000 residents. Waters and⁤ many‍ others from the‌ community were deeply invested ⁢in the​ draft’s outcome.

Gunnar was widely seen ‌as a consensus first-round pick, a⁣ formidable ⁢6-foot-3, 195-pound shortstop at John T. Morgan⁣ Academy, who had been recognized ‍as Alabama’s premier high school basketball player. Mock drafts projected him to ​be selected between picks 14 ‍and 25, with pick No. 25 considered the “floor,” according to draft expert Keith ‌Law from The Athletic.

The⁣ gathering became lively as the ⁤first ten selections‌ were ‌shown on a large flat screen‍ displaying the live⁢ broadcast from the MLB Network. ⁢As the draft progressed, people began‌ to focus intently. The​ Philadelphia Phillies informed⁢ Henderson they would ​choose him⁢ at No. 14 if college shortstop​ Bryson‍ Stott was unavailable, and⁢ they picked their top choice.​ Three selections‍ later, the ⁤Washington​ Nationals, who⁤ had⁣ hosted⁤ a private workout for Henderson, opted for pitcher Jackson Rutledge.⁣ The Los Angeles Dodgers used the 25th pick on Tulane third baseman Kody Hoese.

As the ​names continued to be announced, the anticipation grew. The ⁤New York Yankees had always preferred another high school shortstop, ‌Anthony Volpe, and selected him ⁢as ‌the eighth shortstop drafted at ⁢pick No. 30.‍ A contingent of Houston’s scouting‌ team was interested in Henderson, but the Astros ultimately⁤ chose Cal⁣ catcher Korey Lee with‌ pick No.⁤ 32.

Every⁢ team except for‍ Boston, which lacked a‌ first-round pick that year, overlooked ‌Henderson. ⁣The Pirates‍ didn’t select him twice, nor did the‌ Dodgers.​ Meanwhile, Arizona ⁣and Tampa Bay​ passed on him three times each. While‍ his athleticism and raw tools were appealing, teams were hesitant due to uncertainty‌ about him being a ​sure bet. He had underperformed on the summer showcase circuit. The Astros questioned his ability to make consistent contact and play shortstop, ⁣while the Dodgers had reservations ⁢about his swing and‌ struggled against the less competitive teams in Selma.⁤ One by one, teams opted not ​to take the chance.

When the Texas ⁣Rangers selected Baylor third baseman⁣ David Wendzel with‍ pick⁣ No. 41, the broadcast​ concluded ⁢— only⁣ the first round ⁣and nine compensatory/competitive balance picks were aired — and the channel was ‌changed.

A somber atmosphere enveloped the gathering. Kerry fought back tears, ‌while Allen felt unwell. Eventually, ⁤Gunnar and his parents attempted to uplift ⁤the mood by ‌reminding everyone of their backup plan.

“We’re going to​ Auburn!” the‌ family declared. The crowd responded with cheers.

Gunnar Henderson never played​ for​ Auburn.

The 23-year-old ranks ‌among the top five ⁢players in ​Major League ⁣Baseball, according to FanGraphs WAR. He is the reigning American League Rookie of the Year, an All-Star, and a prominent figure for the Baltimore Orioles, ⁣a ​team considered to be entering the early stages⁢ of a promising dynasty. The ‌Orioles will kick off the wild-card round of the ‍playoffs ​against‌ the​ Kansas City​ Royals on Tuesday, ​and their shortstop, fresh off one ⁢of the most⁢ remarkable seasons ⁤in Orioles history, is set to take the ‍spotlight.

Henderson was ⁢selected first in the second round, marking one of the most significant ⁢scouting misjudgments in recent times. Most prospects picked⁢ before him remain in ⁣the minors or are struggling to establish themselves⁤ in the major leagues. The only player drafted ahead of‍ Henderson who has matched his offensive contributions is No. 2 ​pick Bobby Witt Jr. of the Royals.

“Whenever we visit other‍ cities,⁤ coaches often ask, ‘How did this guy last that long?’” remarked Orioles manager Brandon Hyde.

Henderson’s ascent underscores the unpredictable nature of​ the draft, where teams frequently overlooked ‌a talented yet ‍high-risk​ high‍ school player. Furthermore, his journey highlights⁢ a ⁤developmental ⁢triumph, as Baltimore’s plan for‌ Henderson—especially their unconventional⁣ strategy ⁣during the pandemic—enabled him to make an earlier-than-expected impact in the majors.

In 2018, Mike Elias, then the ‌scouting director for the Astros, began analyzing the upcoming draft class, ​marking‍ Henderson as​ his top choice with Houston’s late⁢ first-round pick. However, in November of that year, Elias was appointed ‍as Baltimore’s⁤ general manager. The rebuilding Orioles held the No. 1 pick ​and ultimately selected ⁣Adley ‍Rutschman, a catcher from Oregon State.

Within Baltimore’s internal ‍draft ‍rankings, Henderson was valued between Nos. 14 and 16⁤ and was⁣ also favorably viewed by the existing ‍scouting team. Yet, since ⁤the Orioles would not have another pick until No. 42, it seemed unlikely ⁤they could secure ⁤him. So much so that Kerry advised her youngest son, Cade, to change out​ of his Orioles pajama pants⁢ before attending the draft party.

As⁤ the draft continued past ‍the low 30s and Henderson’s name remained uncalled, Elias—having scouted him more than two dozen‌ times—contacted Henderson’s then-agent, Larry Reynolds, to inquire: Would Henderson consider signing if ‌offered more than slot value? Reynolds was uncertain;⁤ the family had ⁣indicated it was either a first-round selection or ‍Auburn. They‍ extended the call to ⁢Allen,‍ who was still at the Waters’ home. After the announcement regarding Auburn, Kerry⁣ had⁢ stepped away to grab some food, while Gunnar was outside playing cornhole. There wasn’t enough time to gather everyone and⁢ communicate the message, let ⁣alone make such a ⁢life-changing choice.

A few minutes later, Gunnar and Kerry learned ​that ⁤the Orioles⁢ had chosen him in ⁣the second round,⁢ as his name flashed across the ticker at⁣ the bottom of the television.

No one slept

That night,⁤ Kerry was awake, crying, tossing and turning, and praying. She⁢ had never been concerned ⁤about which team chose Gunnar⁢ or the ‌amount ‌of‍ money he received. Instead, her hope and prayers centered on ​finding a “clear path.” For her and‍ Allen, being​ a first-round ⁤pick seemed like a sufficient pathway for​ their son to skip ‍college. But what now?

The following morning, while walking⁣ through the neighborhood to gather​ her thoughts, Kerry received a call ​from Travis Coleman, an Astros scout who had coached Gunnar in travel ⁤ball. “Baltimore⁤ doesn’t ‍have a shortstop. There’s a clear path for him there,” Coleman ​said.

Later that day, Elias contacted ⁤the Hendersons to express his ⁤excitement about the Orioles ⁢drafting Gunnar. He noted that​ the Orioles lacked long-term infield⁤ prospects and that the organization was focused ⁣on​ rebuilding around its younger players.‌ Baltimore, Elias emphasized, was where Gunnar belonged. “There’s ⁣a clear path here,”‍ he ⁤asserted.

There it was again. Two‍ individuals ⁢using the exact phrase Kerry ​had⁢ used to express⁢ her hopes for ‌her son—this confirmed it. The Hendersons agreed‍ to⁢ sign ⁣with the Orioles⁣ for⁢ $2.3 million, which was $500,000 above the slot value, and decided to forgo Auburn.

Within the ⁤baseball​ community,⁢ the COVID-19 pandemic is widely viewed as⁢ a ⁤lost ‌developmental year. The 2020 minor league ‍season was canceled, leaving most players to train independently—or ⁢not at all. The ⁣only arrangement available⁤ for Major League teams was an “alternate site,” which could house a maximum of 30 players. Typically, this roster consisted of big leaguers​ and Triple-A players who could provide depth for the​ major league team ⁣to cover‌ for injuries and underperformance.

Despite⁤ finishing⁢ the ​previous season with a record⁢ of 54-108, Baltimore‌ sent Rutschman and⁣ Henderson to this alternate site, even⁤ though both were years away from ⁤being part of⁤ a big league roster. The reasoning was straightforward: ⁤these were crucial developmental years, and the organization had recently invested significant bonuses in both players. What else could they do?

“It’s like having ⁤a child and choosing between letting​ them skip school or allowing them to skip six grades,” Elias explained. “We decided to skip six grades.”

Rutschman, a more ⁢experienced and polished college athlete who had successfully navigated‍ three ‌levels in his first professional season, quickly⁤ established himself. Conversely, Henderson,‍ with only 29⁣ rookie ball games to his name,​ faced considerable ⁤challenges. ​During his first ‍at-bat, he ⁤faced Eric Hanhold, a journeyman‍ reliever who was nearly eight years older. He struck ⁣out on three pitches.

“He​ immediately recognized that Adley was having‍ success while he⁤ was struggling, and it drove him crazy,” ⁣remarked Orioles hitting coach Ryan Fuller.

Henderson had always been an exceptionally dedicated‌ worker. When his parents visited him during‌ his time in rookie ball, he and Allen sneaked onto a high school field after a rough game so Gunnar could alleviate some frustration. Without a screen for protection, Allen held an old​ chain-link fence in front of⁣ him with one hand while⁣ pitching with the ‍other.

At the alternate site, Henderson approached them right away, saying, “I ​stink; let’s get to work,” Fuller recalled. Initially, they focused on the barrel entry‌ of Henderson’s bat, which had been ‌too⁤ steep, causing him to pull his hands into the zone off-plane. Even in rookie ball, Henderson had observed‌ how the natural⁣ loft in his swing made him vulnerable to rising⁣ fastballs. For weeks, ‍he practiced in ​the batting cage, attempting to connect with small foam ​balls—“hoppy heaters”—that​ would rise as they neared the plate.

Every day, Henderson arrived at the field around ⁤10:30 a.m. ‌to work​ in the cage ‌before taking ground balls and ⁣facing about 5-10 live at-bats,​ often overmatched against pitchers who had experience‌ in Triple A or the major leagues.

“Every single day, he took his ‌lumps,” said Matt Blood,‌ the⁢ director of player development at the time, “and then he would return to ⁣the ‌cage to train,⁤ train, train.”

With only the hotel and⁢ the field to occupy ⁤his time, ‌Henderson felt as if he were in ⁣paradise.

“I’d say it was one of ⁤the most enjoyable experiences I’ve had while playing,” he remarked. “The ⁣focus was​ on development, ⁢and ⁢I ⁢took it seriously.”

There⁤ was no concern about statistics, wins, ⁤or ⁣losses. Distractions ‍were ⁤absent.‍ “We had unlimited repetitions, and while ‌we⁣ might not have been the smartest players ⁤at that time, we ​were a group ⁢of young, eager players ready to hit,”‌ Fuller shared. “Whenever we⁣ had free time, we would head to the batting cage. It wasn’t about swinging for the ⁢sake of it; every session ⁤aimed to challenge us. ‌It ‍felt almost experimental then. Nevertheless, everyone⁣ understood that we ⁤were⁣ preparing for something significant.”

About three weeks in, Henderson⁤ began ⁤to⁣ hold his own in the ‍simulated games. A swing adjustment that might typically take months, or even a year, progressed⁢ much‍ quicker due to‍ the thousands of repetitions at the ​alternate site. Henderson managed⁣ to flatten his swing, improving his contact path to the ball. The Orioles tracked internal statistics at the alternate​ site,⁢ and​ while his batting ​average never fully⁢ rebounded from the ‍initial struggles, his OPS steadily increased, nearing‍ a respectable .700 by the end.

“This young guy ‌was competing against ⁤others he really⁣ shouldn’t have​ been able to hold his own against,” Blood noted. “By the conclusion of ⁣this phase, we‍ were all exchanging glances, thinking that if⁢ he‌ maintains ‍this ⁤level of ⁤practice and progress, ⁣we might really‍ have something exceptional​ on our⁢ hands.”

Gunnar Henderson homered in his major-league ⁣debut. (Nick ‍Cammett / Getty Images)

That fall, Henderson ​participated​ in the Orioles’ instructional league. In 2021, he began producing what Elias ​referred to as “remarkable exit velocity numbers,” quickly advancing through three ⁤levels to reach Double A. By the next June, he ‌was ‍elevated ⁣to Triple A, where he achieved a .504 slugging percentage and a .374 batting average on‌ balls in play. He made ​his ⁣major ⁢league debut‍ on⁣ August 31, ‍hitting a home run on his first hit‌ with ​an impressive‍ swing that sent the ball off his bat at ‍107.1 mph, causing his ​helmet to fall off.

During spring training⁤ in 2023, Henderson sent a text to his⁣ fiancée, Katherine Lee Bishop, who was in her final ⁣year of pharmacy school at Auburn, expressing ​his aspiration to win the AL Rookie ‌of the Year. Each year, before the season starts, he shares‌ his main goal with Bishop,‌ and thereafter, they don’t discuss it again.

Henderson had a slow start to his rookie season in 2023. However, on June 8,⁤ he hit a go-ahead, two-run‍ homer in ‌the eighth inning down the left-field line in ⁣Milwaukee that reignited his confidence. Each night,⁤ he demonstrated‌ the significant improvements he’d made both at the plate and in⁤ the field.

that could ​stand out at shortstop. He ⁣not only won the‍ Rookie of the Year award, becoming the ‍first Oriole in 34 years to achieve this honor, but he did so with unanimous support.

This ‌season, Henderson achieved a batting line of .282/.366/.531 over 158 games. ⁤He recorded 92 RBIs and scored 118 runs, ranking sixth in baseball, and was named Most Valuable Oriole for the second consecutive year. Nonetheless, following some ‍games, Henderson expresses his frustration to Bishop over not making solid ⁤contact with a ​ball ⁣all night, regardless of⁤ going 3-for-4 with multiple RBIs. In Triple-A, he ​would⁣ transition from a full ⁣sprint to a complete stop down the first⁣ base line so rapidly that his manager, Buck ‌Britton, often had to avert his gaze, fearing‌ the young star would ⁢injure a hamstring. This was just Henderson’s way of⁢ releasing ‌pent-up energy.

“I sometimes ‌wish he wouldn’t be ⁤so hard on himself,”⁤ Hyde remarked.⁢ “He genuinely believes he should never make ⁢an out … He’ll‍ come back (to the dugout) ⁢looking puzzled,​ as if to ask, how did that ⁣just​ happen?”

Henderson’s intensity blends with ⁢youthful​ exuberance in⁣ a young Baltimore ‌team.

For the All-Star​ game, he had ‍a Scooby Doo bat crafted and,⁣ upon⁤ leaving the field, seized the ‌ESPN microphone to shout ‌the cartoon dog’s famous​ line, “Ruh Roh Raggy!” He also lists the often-criticized Star Wars character, Jar-Jar Binks, ‌among his top impressions.‌ Surprisingly, he possesses a⁤ confidence in‌ singing, unhesitatingly turning up the ⁢radio to serenade Bishop on their first date.

“We do karaoke ⁢on the (Orioles) bus occasionally,” Henderson noted, explaining ‍how he chose Motley⁣ Crue’s “Kickstart My ⁣Heart”⁣ as his walk-up song in the minors,‍ then switched to Gwen Stefani’s “Sweet Escape” — ⁣a suggestion from his⁢ older brother, Jackson — to engage the⁣ fans more. He has an ⁤old country tune he plays in the batting cages on Sundays, but ⁢his teammates “never wanted me to sing it in there,” he​ admitted. He usually honors their wish.

Henderson displays ⁣exceptional manners, ‌which can be surprising ‍in a big league clubhouse. He infuses every‍ sentence with “sir” or “ma’am,” prompting coaches to⁢ advise him to ‍refrain ​from doing so. It occasionally slips into conversations during ‍games with Hyde. “We’ve ⁢moved on from that now,” Fuller chuckles. “No more ‘sir.’”

This reflects ⁢his upbringing. ​When Henderson turned professional, he assured his ⁤parents he would obtain a college ⁤degree. Kerry and Allen ‌have kept the notepad where he made this promise. He has completed enough online courses through Wallace⁤ Community College ⁢Selma, where Kerry works, to be​ classified as ‍a sophomore. Currently, he is working⁤ towards a ⁣Bachelor of Science⁣ in‍ Business Administration, ⁢although that goal is temporarily on‍ hold as ​he faces more immediate challenges.

Baltimore, which ⁤last ​won the⁢ World Series in ‌1983, faced ‌a sweep in the AL ⁢Division Series against⁣ the Rangers‍ last year, concluding a remarkable 101-win⁣ season. ‌This setback was partially attributed to the team’s youth. Many national analysts ⁣believe the Orioles are merely at ⁢the start of what could become a sustained period of ⁢success. This ‌year, the expectations have risen significantly.

While the⁤ Orioles have capitalized on significant trades (such as pitcher Corbin Burnes) and heartwarming stories (like Ryan O’Hearn and starter Albert Suárez), the team’s foundation rests on a young position-player core comprising Henderson,⁣ Rutschman,​ Jackson Holliday, Colton⁣ Cowser, and ‌Jordan Westburg.

All of these players were ‌selected earlier in their respective draft classes ⁤than Henderson, who⁣ was someone virtually any other team could have chosen. Instead, he finds​ himself in Baltimore, where his ​image is featured on ‌posters and where he ‌has already ‌surpassed⁢ a legend like Cal Ripken, Jr. for the most home runs (37) by a shortstop in team history.

The awkwardness ⁤of‌ that draft night five‌ years ago now⁤ feels like‍ a distant⁣ memory, overshadowed by a burgeoning⁢ career that is only just beginning.

“The Orioles​ were not on my radar,” reflected Henderson, “but it turned out well.”

‍;”>(Top image:⁤ Meech Robinson / The Athletic; ⁣Photos: Scott Taetsch /‌ Getty ⁣Images)