Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson has struggled badly in 2026.
Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson has had the worst season of his five-year career so far. Henderson has logged more at-bats than any player in MLB with 349 and has missed just one game this year.
Heading into 2026, he was still expected to be Baltimore's best player, so that kind of availability is typically a recipe for success. Unfortunately, it has not. He has really struggled, posting a .221 batting average, .291 on-base percentage and .701 OPS, all of which would be career lows if the season ended today. His power has been there with 16 home runs and 39 RBIs, yet he simply is not collecting enough hits.
The Orioles' season has mirrored Henderson's performance, equally lackluster, and on Sunday after losing a series to the Washington Nationals it marked their second straight series loss. After another underwhelming 0-for-4 performance when the Orioles really could have used him, Henderson voiced his frustration when speaking with reporters.
"Probably one of the most frustrating things I've ever been through. I mean, come in and work my [expletive] off every day. ... You don't want to think about results, but it's hard not to when [expletive] doesn't show up for so long," Henderson said (h/t Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun).
When asked about whether he is making any changes to his approach, Henderson did not hold back. "I mean, I've been trying to do any and everything that I can to help the team win, because it really doesn't feel like I'm doing that, offensively at least. Yeah, it just sucks, man," he said.
For Henderson, there is still plenty of time to turn it around, and the same goes for Baltimore. In a weak American League, the Orioles remain within striking distance of a playoff spot, and president of baseball operations Mike Elias has indicated he plans on adding to the roster at this year's trade deadline.
Henderson himself is clearly capable of turning it around. As recently as 2024, he put together one of the best seasons in Orioles history, finishing fourth in AL MVP voting. He is also a former AL Rookie of the Year, Silver Slugger and All-Star, so the talent is undeniable.
However, there is a sense of urgency heading into Monday's series against the Chicago White Sox. Baltimore keeps slipping in the standings, and the window to make a meaningful push in the second half is not going to stay open forever.
