2023 AL Rookie Of The Year On Track To Win 2024 MVP Award
It has been thrilling to see what star player Gunnar Henderson will do on the field throughout the season. He is a fun person and player, but his performance makes him stand out. It's enticing that his play supports one of the best teams the Orioles have had as they attempt to win the AL East again. Or, at the very least, repeat as champs with a fantastic regular season record. Fans are also excited about the possibility that Henderson could stop the Orioles' lack of winning Most Valuable Player, which dates back to 1991 when Cal Ripken Jr. won for a second time.
Cal won the 1982 Rookie of the Year award and, in 1983, advanced to being the AL MVP. So if Gunnar Henderson wins the AL MVP award this year, he will follow in Cal Ripken's footsteps.
Gunnar Henderson Stats
WAR as of 6/9: 4.3 (takes second place behind Aaron Judge)
RBI as of 6/9: 45
Batting Stats as of 6/9: .267 / .371 / .583 (plus 20 home runs)
We're a little less than 40% of the way through this season, and the Orioles have one of the best players. Henderson has a perfect 8-8 stolen bases and walks more than 10% of the time. Will all of this be enough to make the first MVP for the Orioles since 1991? Henderson's performance and health will be just as important factors as whether the other contenders can keep up or be better than they are now.
History
During his sophomore season at Auburn University, Henderson committed to baseball. After hitting .559 with 75 RBIs, 69 runs scored, 11 home runs, nine triples, 17 doubles, and 32 stolen bases as a senior, he was voted the state player of the year. With 11 rebounds and 17 points per game, the Alabama Independent School Association awarded Henderson the basketball player of the year.
With the 42nd overall choice in the second round of the 2019 MLB draft, Henderson was chosen by the Baltimore Orioles. Henderson accepted a deal that included a $2.3 million signing bonus. He was assigned to the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Orioles after signing. He had a .259 batting average at the end of his rookie campaign, with one home run and eleven RBIs.
Midway through the major league season, Henderson was added to the Orioles' alternate training camp and participated in the team's fall Instructional League when the 2020 minor league season was postponed due to COVID-19.
Prior to the 2021 season, Henderson was voted the Orioles' minor league-best overall athlete. before getting promoted to the High-A Aberdeen IronBirds, he spent the first 35 games of the season with the Low-A Delmarva Shorebirds, where he batted .312 with 39 RBIs, a triple, 11 doubles, and eight home runs.
On August 31, 2022, the Orioles chose Henderson's contract and added him to the active roster. Later that day, in a game against the Cleveland Guardians, he was added to the starting lineup. That same day, he got his first major league hit, which turned into a home run. Henderson played 34 games for the Orioles in 2022, batting .259 with 18 RBIs and four home runs.
The Sporting News named Henderson their AL Rookie of the Year on October 26, 2023, by a unanimous vote. Henderson won the Outstanding Rookie of the Year award from the Major League Baseball Players Association. in 2023. He was the utility player recipient of the American League's Silver Slugger Award
Henderson became the youngest player to ever have 10 or more home runs before May 1st. In addition to stealing more bases, he is batting for a higher average.
So what do you think? Should Gunnar Henderson be in the lead for winning the MLB MVP Award?
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