January 31, 2025

Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson broke out in his second full big-league season with 37 home runs, 21 steals, and a .281 average over 159 games. He was a third-round pick on most platforms last year but now goes in the middle of most first rounds thanks to improvements all around his game. Unfortunately, he's now dealing with a right intercostal strain and will begin the season on the IL, with the team hoping it'll be a matter of days rather than weeks. On top of the obvious jumps regarding power and speed, he also showed superior plate discipline. His chase rate fell by three percentage points and his overall whiff rate dropped by two points, while his zone swing and zone contact rates held steady or rose. The 23-year-old looked far more comfortable in the batter's box and punished mistakes, with a higher rate of stolen-base attempts when on as well. As a lefty-swinging bat whose power leans to the pull side, the change in Camden's left-field dimensions shouldn't greatly affect Henderson. That said, a rising tide lifts all ships. More offense for others means more runs, RBI, and lineup turnover for increased plate appearances. He may not have valuable third-base eligibility anymore but the healthy ATC projections of 32 homers, 17 swipes, and a .272 average give him value wherever he plays. Despite the injury risk, the upside is gargantuan and so his RotoBaller rank sits at 18 for now.--Nick Mariano - RotoBaller