The star infielder’s rehab ended and now he’s back. The Orioles need him!
The Orioles have had some problems over the first week of the 2025 season. One of them has been solved: Gunnar Henderson is back. After getting in a few games of minor league rehab, the O’s have deemed him ready to return from the injured list. The Orioles activated Henderson on Friday afternoon, optioning outfielder Dylan Carlson back to Triple-A Norfolk.
Henderson had been on the shelf since the end of February with a strained intercostal muscle that occurred during a spring training game. The Orioles kept acting like Henderson could return soon through spring training, but time ran out. Hopefully it ends up being a good thing that Henderson was able to start the minor league rehab as soon as Norfolk’s season began last Friday. It is important for the fortunes of this year’s team that the injury not linger or recur. There’s no replacing a guy who had 9+ wins a year ago.
In all, Henderson’s rehab with the Tides lasted for five games. That was long enough for him to hit two homers. The pitchers will be tougher now heading back to MLB. The offense could certainly use the jolt. Less encouraging is that Henderson managed to commit three errors in only 28.2 innings in the field. That is not a good ratio. Not much to do except hold our breath.
Carlson, who arrived when Colton Cowser landed on the injured list with a broken thumb, appeared in two games and was hitless in four at-bats. The 26-year-old outfielder can go back to Norfolk and then the Orioles can try to get the switch-hitter back to his 2021 form. If Carlson never regains that form, well, outfield prospects are still coming, we hope.