The last Oriole to put up a season as dominant as Gunnar Henderson’s 2024 campaign was Cal Ripken Jr.
Just as Ripken was honored in 1991, Henderson on Saturday was announced as the Most Valuable Oriole, as local media awarded the superstar shortstop for the second consecutive season. The fiery and youthful Henderson was a no-doubt winner after leading the Orioles in several offensive categories and spending the entire season as a legitimate Most Valuable Player candidate in the American League.
Ripken’s 1991 season was the best by an individual player in Orioles history, and Henderson’s 2024 campaign will likely go down as one of the five best.
Henderson, 23, won the award in 2023 as a rookie, following in Adley Rutschman’s footsteps as a first-year player to win the award after the star catcher did in 2022. He was the fourth rookie in Orioles history to be named MVO.
By winning the award in back-to-back seasons, Henderson joins an exclusive list that includes some of the best players in Orioles history. He’s the second player to do so this century and the first player since Adam Jones in 2011-12.
Other players to win MVO in consecutive seasons are: Rafael Palmeiro (1995-96), Ripken (1990-91), Eddie Murray (1981-85), Jim Palmer (1972-73), Boog Powell (1969-70) and Frank Robinson (1966-67).
Others to receive at least one top-three vote were: starting pitcher Corbin Burnes, outfielder Colton Cowser, catcher Adley Rutschman, outfielder Anthony Santander, journeyman pitcher Albert Suárez and infielder Jordan Westburg.
Entering Saturday, Henderson leads the Orioles in batting average (.283), on-base percentage (.366), slugging percentage (.538) and OPS (.904). He’s first in runs (115), walks (74) and triples (seven) as well as second in home runs (37), doubles (29), RBIs (87) and stolen bases (21).
By Baseball-Reference’s estimation of wins above replacement, Henderson was a slam-dunk choice, although far more goes into MVO voting than simply a player’s WAR. Henderson’s 8.8 WAR ranks third in MLB — behind only New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge and Kansas City Royals superstar Bobby Witt Jr. — and is far and away the best on the Orioles. The next-highest is Burnes at 3.2.
The last time the WAR gap between the Orioles’ top player and second-best player was as large as this year (5.6) was in 1991 when Ripken put up 11.5 WAR to center fielder Mike Devereaux’s 4.9 — a difference of 6.6.
This article will be updated.