Gunnar Henderson after winning AL ROY Award: ‘I was glad to get out there and show I could play major league shortstop and third base’
Orioles infielder Gunnar Henderson won the 2023 American League Rookie of the Year award, becoming the first Baltimore player to win the award since Gregg Olson in 1989.
Henderson is the first O’s position player to win the ROY Award since the legendary Cal Ripken Jr.
Members of the Baseball Writers Association of America unanimously voted for Henderson and in the process he earned 30 out of 30 first-place votes.
The 22-year-old was a crucial member of an Orioles team that won the American League East and went to the postseason. He led the Orioles with an .814 OPS and finished second to fellow teammate Adley Rutschman in wins above replacement.
The Orioles young superstar found out he won the prestigious award when Ripken made the announcement on MLB Network.
“He’s one of the best to ever do it. Having him for support, for him to take time out of his day to do this, come into the clubhouse and stuff, it’s been pretty special to have a guy like that. I can’t thank him enough for all he’s done, and I look forward to many conversations with him,” Henderson said.
Henderson led all rookies with 28 homers while playing a rock solid shortstop and third base.
“I feel like people kind of had an idea of what I could do at the plate, but I guess they kind of didn’t really know about my defense. I was glad to get out there and show I could play major league shortstop and third base.”
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