Minor League Baseball

Here's How Baltimore Orioles Star Gunnar Henderson Did on Day 1 of Rehab Assignment

As he battles back from a right intercostal strain, the All-Star shortstop suited up for the Triple-A Norfolk Tides on Opening Day.
Brady Farkas|
Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson (2) at bat during the first inning and then left the game during the inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Ed Smith Stadium on Feb. 27.
Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson (2) at bat during the first inning and then left the game during the inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Ed Smith Stadium on Feb. 27. | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

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Baltimore Orioles

Baltimore Orioles star Gunnar Henderson went 1-for-3 in his first rehab game of the season on Friday. Battling back from a right intercostal strain that has him on the major league injured list, Henderson suited up for the Triple-A Norfolk Tides.

The Tides lost 9-2 to the Durham Bulls on Triple-A Opening Day. The Bulls are the affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays.

Henderson's single was clocked at 105.9 MPH off the bat. He's hoping to need just a handful of games at Triple-A before getting back to the Orioles. He's eligible to come off the injured list next week.

One of the game's best players, Henderson finished fourth in the American League MVP voting a season ago, behind Aaron Judge, Bobby Witt Jr. and Juan Soto. An Alabama native, Henderson is headed into the fourth year of his career, all with the Orioles.

He's a .268 lifetime hitter with 69 homers and 192 RBIs. For fun, he's a career .276 hitter in the minors with 37 homers and 161 RBIs.

Henderson last suited up for Norfolk in 2022, when he played 65 games prior to his major league call-up.

The Tides will take on the Bulls again on Saturday, while the Orioles will battle with the Toronto Blue Jays. The Orioles are 1-1 on the year after losing on Friday night, 8-2.

Henderson helped lead the O's to the American League playoffs again last season, but they were beaten in the wild card round by the upstart Kansas City Royals in two games.

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Brady Farkas
BRADY FARKAS

Brady Farkas is the senior writer for “Minor League Baseball on SI’’ and the host of “The Payoff Pitch’’ podcast, which can be found on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Brady has spent nearly a decade in sports talk radio and is a graduate of Oswego State University. Follow Brady on Twitter @WDEVRadioBrady.

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