The superstar shortstop left yesterday’s game with lower side discomfort. For the sake of the Orioles’ season, let’s hope it’s nothing to worry about.
Good morning, Camden Chatters.
It’s over. Pack it in. The 2025 Orioles are doomed. Let’s all find something else to do for the next seven months.
…All right, maybe I’m overreacting. Slightly. But the news that Gunnar Henderson left yesterday’s Grapefruit League game with lower right back discomfort isn’t exactly what any O’s fan wants to hear. Henderson reportedly suffered the injury while catching a line drive in the first inning.
Brandon Hyde, for what it’s worth, didn’t seem worried, saying that the decision to pull Henderson was mostly precautionary. It is only the first week of spring training, after all. Hyde told reporters that the O’s have no plans for Gunnar to undergo an MRI and will just continue to monitor him. Best case scenario is that this all turns out to be a big nothingburger and Henderson is back in the lineup in a few days. And that may well happen.
Still, the doom-and-gloom side of me worries that this seemingly minor discomfort could turn out to be something more serious and that Gunnar ends up spending some time on the IL. Or there’s the also-unwelcome possibility that he tries to play through the lingering soreness and his performance suffers as a result. Either outcome would spell trouble for the Orioles’ chances of contention.
But I’m jumping the gun. Let’s see what news the next few days bring before we start predicting the worst. In the meantime, the Gunnar-less O’s went on to an 11-8 win over the Blue Jays yesterday, setting the tone with a seven-run second inning in which both Ramón Urías and Tyler O’Neill homered. The Birds’ offense collected nine hits from nine different hitters, though it should be mentioned that they weren’t exactly facing the Blue Jays’ A-team. Former O’s prospect Easton Lucas started for Toronto and was followed by five pitchers with zero major league experience. So, you know. On the mound, Grayson Rodriguez had a successful spring debut, pitching 1.2 hitless innings and striking out two.
The O’s will be back in action this afternoon with a 1:05 game against the Twins in Fort Myers. There will be no TV broadcast of the game by either team, though it is available on Twins radio if you really need your fix. Zach Eflin is set to make his first spring start.
Links
Orioles pull Gunnar Henderson from game ‘for precautionary reasons’ – The Baltimore Banner
More on Henderson’s injury. Keep your fingers crossed for good news.
Will Orioles’ Mountcastle benefit from closer left-field wall? | MAILBAG – BaltimoreBaseball.com
I would certainly think so. But I’m still predicting that the Orioles are going to trade Mountcastle in July if not earlier. Coby Mayo’s got to play somewhere.
Orioles hiring performers for fan-favorite hot dog race – Baltimore Sun
All right, fine, I’ll do it. But only if I get to be Mustard.
Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You share your day with three former Orioles: left-hander Mike Milchin (57) and outfielders Dallas Williams (67) and the late Dick Kokos (b. 1928, d. 1986). Kokos played in the first game in Orioles history, on April 13, 1954.
On this date a year ago, the Orioles signed veteran second baseman Kolten Wong to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. Orioles fans were suitably puzzled, worrying that the signing of Wong might mean that the Jackson Holliday wouldn’t break camp with the team. As it turned out, Holliday didn’t make the team…but neither did Wong, who was released before Opening Day, with last-minute signing Tony Kemp cracking the roster instead.