Gunnar Henderson made history on Wednesday by hitting his 35th home run of the season, surpassing Baltimore Orioles legends in the process.
His first-inning homer put him ahead of Cal Ripken Jr. and Miguel Tejada for the most single-season home runs by a shortstop in Orioles history. The three players were previously tied with 34 each.
The memorable moment occurred while the Orioles were trailing the Chicago White Sox 1-0. Henderson took advantage of a 3-1 count, connecting with a 90 mph cutter from White Sox pitcher Jonathan Cannon and sending it over the right centerfield stands for a solo home run.
Despite Henderson’s impressive feat, the Orioles fell short as the White Sox secured an 8-1 victory. This loss resulted in Baltimore sharing the top spot in the AL East with the New York Yankees.
In just his second full MLB season, Henderson continues to etch his name into the franchise record books. After earning AL Rookie of the Year in 2023, he has surpassed his previous season’s stats with a remarkable performance this year. Currently boasting a .280/.367/.536 slash line along with 84 RBI and 17 stolen bases, Henderson has his sights set on further achievements with 21 games left in the season.
Reflecting on his milestone, Henderson expressed, “It’s definitely something that I’m going to hold very dear to me. To pass those guys in any type of Orioles history is pretty special.”
With his sights set on leading the Orioles to the playoffs, Henderson aims to leave his mark on the postseason record books as well.