Gunnar Henderson recently revealed in an interview on WBAL radio that he played much of last season with a right shoulder impingement. Despite the injury, Henderson played 154 games.
After a ribcage injury caused him to sit out the first seven games of the season, Henderson played all but one game and had a 74-game errorless streak at shortstop.
His batting did suffer. He hit 17 home runs, 20 fewer than the year before. His OPS dropped from .893 to .787.
At the Birdland Caravan on Friday, Henderson talked with the local media about the injury and his thoughts on the club. Here are excerpts:
Is this club better than last year? Is it a matter of guys staying healthy?
“I think that’s a big factor, staying healthy, and the guys we’ve brought in have a great track record. Looking forward to getting down to spring [training] and being able to talk with them and just see them in action.”
How excited are you about the moves?
“Anytime you see the ownership putting effort into helping us get better along with us training to get better, it makes for a really exciting time, and I’m really pumped up about it.”
What’s it been like getting to know Pete Alonso?
“I’ve talked to him a couple of times in years past. I got to talk to him a lot today. He’s a great guy. I’m pumped up to have him. Really looking forward to getting into the season, getting into the grind with him, and I know he’s going to be great with us, and everybody else is going to really enjoy having him around.”
Does Alonso’s arrival make you look at this team differently?
“Just the experiences that he’s brought in one of the biggest markets. Just being able to pick his brain on how he’s handled stuff, being deep in playoff runs in years past, that’s something that I look forward to chatting with him about and seeing how his experiences have helped him.”
Do you try to forget about a tough season or use it as motivation?
“Obviously, we didn’t start the way we wanted to last year, but I feel like we played pretty good ball down the stretch. It’s obviously a new year, new faces in the clubhouse, still a lot of the same [faces] in there. I feel like we’re meshing and getting ready for this season and, ultimately, getting back to what we’re good at, and that’s winning ballgames.”
Where are you physically right now?
“I feel great. The shoulder feels great. I feel like I’m in a great spot right now, and the swing’s been feeling awesome so far.”
Can you share some background on that shoulder issue and what you learned about yourself?
“I dove for a ball at some point, pretty early in the season, had an impingement. It had some inflammation in there as well. I think some of that stemmed to where I couldn’t plane out as early as I wanted to and just kind of chopped down on the ball.
“Looking back on it, I was proud at the way it turned out at the end and to put together that season with not feeling 100 percent. Looking forward to getting back and feeling 100 percent this year.”
You stole a lot of bases at the end of last season. Is that going to be a focus this season, too?
“I feel like once I got comfortable out there, I was able to learn alone out there with the green light whenever I wanted it. I was able to just figure out what I’m good at when I’m on the bases and kind of how or what makes me go, and I can steal a lot of bags that way.”
What’s it going to mean to wear a Team USA uniform?
“It’s going to be awesome. I’m super honored to wear our country across our chest. Super pumped up about it. This will be the first time I’m getting to do it at, and what a stage to do it at.”
Are you going to play third base or shortstop?
“I was told we’ll kind of rotate around. Whoever’s swinging the best at the time when everything starts is who’s going to start. That’s what I was told. I’m looking forward to it.”
What have your conversations been like with new manager Craig Albernaz?
“It’s been great. I had to give him a hard time on the [New England] accent a little bit. I enjoying hearing him say my name because I remember when he first got hired, [he said], my name’s going to be the most fun to pronounce. Yeah, he’s been great.
“He seems like a really great guy. The interactions we’ve had today have been great, and I’m super pumped to have him along and really looking forward do getting into it with him.”
Has Albernaz talked to you about the kind of baseball he expects the team to play?
“I think it’s just going out there and letting us play freely. We’ll make mistakes, but it’s just keeping that sense of freedom out there and just playing with our instincts that’s brought us where we are today.”
Has the ownership’s willingness to spend made you think about your long-term future with the club?
“They’ve done a great job this offseason. Really happy that they’re starting to put some money into us, not only the players, but even the stadium. You can see all the renovations going on right now. It’s a super good time for Orioles fans, and they should be excited.”
What can the additions of Taylor Ward and Pete Alonso mean to the rest of the lineup?
“They bring a lot of pop, so that’s all good things there. I’m looking forward to getting down to spring with them and being able to interact with them and getting on the baseball field with them.”
Note: Earlier this week, the Orioles placed five players in Baseball America’s Top 100 prospects. MLB Pipeline has three Orioles in its top 100 — catcher/first baseman Samuel Basallo is eighth, and outfielders Dylan Beavers and Nate George are 69th and 93rd.
If Basallo or Beavers, who are in the top 100 in both Baseball America and MLB.com’s list, accrue a year of service time as a rookie and win the Rookie of the Year award or place in the top three in Most Valuable Player voting before they’re eligible for arbitration, the Orioles receive a Prospect Promotion Incentive pick in the following year’s draft.
Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com.