All Gunnar Henderson wanted was a cheeseburger. Now he’s running around Cleveland like a madman.
On second thought, that’s not such a bad thing. Not for Henderson or the Baltimore Orioles, who called up their top prospect earlier on Wednesday and promptly tossed him in the six-spot on their lineup card.
In his first game Major Leagues, Henderson proved he’s more than ready for The Show by launching an absolutely ridiculous blast out to centerfield for a home run. The rookie was +560 to go yard on Wednesday and made oddsmakers look like fools for setting his line that high.
The ball went 429 feet and cleared the fence easily. More difficult was Henderson’s ability to keep his helmet on as he rounded the bases—he swung so hard it flew off before he even left the batter’s box.
FIRST HIT ✅
FIRST HOME RUN ✅ pic.twitter.com/Y6G6ycDiQ1
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) August 31, 2022
Baseball fans couldn’t stop gushing over the Orioles’ newest star.
— Cal Ripken, Jr. (@CalRipkenJr) August 31, 2022
80 Grade Flow from @G_Henderson2. pic.twitter.com/hO01A4yqjF
— Eric Cross (@EricCross04) August 31, 2022
.@G_Henderson2 lets that lettuce shine on his first MLB HR trot. pic.twitter.com/cieUFGz7f3
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 31, 2022
Gunnar Henderson vs Triston McKenzie#Birdland
Home Run 💣
Exit velo: 107.1 mph
Launch angle: 24 deg
Proj. distance: 429 ftThis would have been a home run in 29/30 MLB ballparks.
Only Oracle Park would've held this one in.BAL (2) @ CLE (0)
🔺 4th pic.twitter.com/KX1cGzgVb1— Would it dong? (@would_it_dong) August 31, 2022
Gunnar Henderson just hit an absolute nuke … and completely lost his helmet in the process. He ran the bases on his first big league home run with his glorious lettuce flapping in the wind. What a stud.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 31, 2022
Gunnar Henderson is the first Orioles player since Trey Mancini in 2016 to homer in his MLB debut. pic.twitter.com/hkWl3wR8vT
— The Athletic MLB (@TheAthleticMLB) August 31, 2022
Future Superstar Gunnar Henderson love the Os baby https://t.co/MRQEMhVK2t
— Chase Carlos (@ChaseCCSN) August 31, 2022
"Let the hair flow, Gunnar Henderson" legendary home run call https://t.co/IEgK14OBkJ
— J.A.Wilcox (@worldofwilcox) August 31, 2022
There have been a ton of rookies hit a home run for the first MLB hit this season. In the past month alone, we’ve had four: James Outman, Vaughn Grissom, Brett Baty, Gunnar Henderson. https://t.co/xhy8nax4qn
— Jason Foster (@ByJasonFoster) August 31, 2022
The helmet falling off to show that beautiful hair is legitimately perfect! https://t.co/sGaZ09f59H
— Paul Sporer (@sporer) August 31, 2022
With Henderson and Rutschman, the Orioles are about to get some Vidal Sassoon cash.
— Christopher Crawford (@Crawford_MILB) August 31, 2022
https://t.co/3aBAsn3pRg pic.twitter.com/3WUmZfc2cv
— Jason Collette (@jasoncollette) August 31, 2022
forget about bat flips. Gunnar gonna start the helmet flip trend … https://t.co/UmiTVRMDCH
— Ryan Fagan (@ryanfagan) August 31, 2022
That's some burger power https://t.co/8WLCClFFa2
— Michael Clair (@michaelsclair) August 31, 2022
