Orioles Star Gunnar Henderson to Open 2025 Season on 10-Day IL
Big news out of Baltimore as the Orioles are set to begin their 2025 season without one of their biggest stars. Gunnar Henderson, the young shortstop who took the league by storm last year, will officially start the season on the 10-day injured list due to an intercostal strain. While the team remains hopeful that his absence will be brief, it’s certainly a tough blow for the Orioles and their fans, especially given the incredible year Henderson had in 2024.
Henderson was nothing short of phenomenal last season, finishing fourth in the AL MVP race with a stellar .281/.364/.529 slash line. In 159 games, he crushed the ball, racking up 21 stolen bases while also playing solid defense at shortstop. His 8.0 fWAR and 9.1 bWAR showcased just how valuable he was to the Orioles’ success. And with his 24th birthday still a few months away, there was plenty of excitement about what he might accomplish this season. But now, Baltimore will have to wait just a little longer to see him back on the field.
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The good news is that the Orioles don’t expect Henderson to miss too much time. Since the 10-day IL designation can be backdated a maximum of three days, he could return fairly soon. In the meantime, Baltimore will need to make some adjustments. One possible solution is shifting Jackson Holliday to shortstop, which would open up second base for Ramon Urias. Another option is Jorge Mateo, though his availability remains uncertain as he continues to recover from elbow surgery. While Mateo’s defensive versatility is an asset, his offensive numbers last season (.229/.267/.401) don’t come close to what Henderson brings to the lineup.
Alongside the Henderson news, Orioles GM Mike Elias also confirmed that left-hander Cade Povich will start the year as the team’s fifth starter. Povich, who made his MLB debut last year and posted a 5.20 ERA in 16 starts, has looked much sharper this spring with a 3.07 ERA. He’ll get an extended look in the rotation while Grayson Rodriguez works his way back from elbow inflammation. The team expects Rodriguez to need significant time to build back up, giving Povich at least a few turns in the rotation before any further adjustments are made.
It’s not the ideal start for the Orioles, but there’s still optimism that Henderson will return quickly. Baltimore has big ambitions for 2025, and getting their young superstar back as soon as possible will be a huge part of making those goals a reality. For now, all eyes are on how the team navigates these early-season challenges without one of their key pieces.
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