Even the most effective prospects in baseball sometimes undergo their share of rising pains within the Majors. Many ultimately discover their approach. Some do not. Though it stays to be seen whether or not Gunnar Henderson will reside as much as his immense potential and turn into a franchise cornerstone for the Orioles, the 21-year-old seems to be on the right track after a cold begin to his rookie season.
To say the least, expectations had been huge for the teenager coming into the 2023 marketing campaign. Henderson hit the bottom operating after making his MLB debut late in 2022, then earned the No. 1 total rating on MLB Pipeline’s preseason Top 100 prospects listing.
He proceeded to hit simply .192 with 4 homers and a .354 slugging share over his first 42 video games in 2023.
However, Henderson’s hitting expertise has began to shine by these days — since May 23, he’s posted a .324/.370/.632 slash with six homers and 18 RBIs in 20 video games. He has been one in all MLB’s hottest hitters for the reason that calendar flipped to June, notching a 1.119 OPS with 5 homers in 46 plate appearances.
In reality, nearly the one factor that has been in a position to decelerate Henderson in June has been a abdomen bug, which stored him out of the lineup Sunday.
On Tuesday, Baltimore will open up a two-game sequence at Tropicana Field in opposition to the first-place Rays, who lead the O’s by 5 video games within the AL East. Though it is unsure if Henderson shall be again within the lineup Tuesday, the O’s possibilities of gaining floor on Tampa Bay within the division may hinge on the rookie’s efficiency the remainder of the best way.
Beyond the excellent surface-level stats, there are indicators that Henderson is getting extra comfy within the batter’s field as he beneficial properties extra expertise in opposition to Major League arms. Here’s what we have seen from the infielder this month. (All stats beneath are by Sunday.)
He’s being extra aggressive … however whiffing and putting out much less
Over the primary two months of 2023, Henderson was among the many least aggressive hitters within the recreation, posting the twenty fifth lowest swing charge (39.9%) among the many 238 hitters who noticed at the very least 500 pitches in that span. When he did swing, he didn’t make constant contact, recording a 32.3% whiff charge (misses/swings) that was the twentieth highest in MLB (min. 300 swings).
As a end result, solely 52.7% of Henderson’s plate appearances by May 31 resulted in a batted ball, whereas simply 25% of them ended with exhausting contact (95+ mph exit velocity) regardless of his strong 47.9% hard-hit charge (the proportion of batted balls leading to exhausting contact). Henderson did stroll lots (15.8% BB-rate) in that point, however he additionally struck out a ton (31% Okay-rate).
His anticipated wOBA, which relies on high quality of contact, strikeouts and walks, is an elite .428 in June, up from .325 beforehand. Nearly 74% of Henderson’s plate appearances this month have ended with a ball in play, whereas greater than 41% of his PAs have ended with exhausting contact.
He’s completely mashing the pitches he’s alleged to hit
It sounds easy, however one of many causes Henderson’s manufacturing has spiked in June is that he’s carried out higher when pitchers have given him one thing to hit.
Over the primary two months, Henderson posted a .257 batting common with a .459 slugging share on pitches within the strike zone, swinging at these pitches 58.7% of the time and whiffing on 24.2% of his swings.
It’s been a distinct story in June, with Henderson recording a .464 common and .929 slugging share on in-zone pitches. His zone-swing charge this month is 66.3%, and he’s whiffed on a miniscule 15.1% of those swings.
Henderson has been particularly potent on pitches within the coronary heart of the zone this month, notching a .524 common whereas slugging 1.143. Again, he’s been extra aggressive attacking these pitches, swinging 84.2% of the time (72.5% by May 31).
He’s determining breaking balls
You sometimes don’t turn into a high prospect with out having the ability to hit the fastball, however attending to the Majors and having to face MLB-level breaking stuff has brought about bother for a lot of a younger hitter.
That actually was the case for Henderson previous to June, even going again to final yr.
Entering this month, Henderson had gone 9-for-76 (.118) with three homers in his profession in opposition to breaking pitches, which embody curveballs, sliders, sweepers and slurves.
However, over 12 video games in June, Henderson has posted a .438 common (7-for-16) with two homers in opposition to breakers.
He’s feasted when pitchers have dared to throw him a breaking ball within the strike zone this month, swinging at 75% of them and gathering seven hits in 11 at-bats (.636 BA).
He’s hitting for energy to all fields
Henderson turned heads when he blasted a 462-foot homer to proper subject off the Royals’ Jackson Kowar on June 11, crushing the longest homer to land on Eutaw Street throughout a recreation within the 31-year historical past of Camden Yards. It was one in all two pull-side house runs the left-handed batter has hit this month.
Two days later, Henderson hit his first profession grand slam, hammering a cutter from Blue Jays right-hander Chris Bassitt and sending it 387 ft to left-center subject. It was the second of two straightaway homers for Henderson in June.
Earlier within the month, Henderson hit one out down the left-field line in Milwaukee, placing a powerful swing on Brewers reliever Peter Strzelecki’s four-seam fastball up and off the surface nook and hitting it 365 ft.
The infielder has been displaying off his energy to all fields all month lengthy, slugging .722 on pulled batted balls, 1.222 on balls hit straightaway and 1.143 on balls to the other subject.
Henderson is definitely hitting the ball straightaway and to the other subject much less continuously in June, as his pull charge has elevated dramatically, however he is doing way more harm on non-pulled balls than he did beforehand.
Obviously, it is a small pattern dimension, and pitchers could quickly begin to alter to use Henderson’s newfound aggressiveness, at which level it is going to be as much as the hitter to counter. But these are nonetheless encouraging indicators from a supremely proficient teenager solely 96 video games into his massive league tenure.
Content Source: www.mlb.com