Baltimore Orioles infielder Gunnar Henderson is starring for Team USA at the WBC.
Baltimore Orioles infielder Gunnar Henderson stepped away from Spring Training this week to join Team USA for the World Baseball Classic. On Wednesday, the team made a lineup move involving Henderson for their final exhibition game.
Team USA announced its starting lineup on X for Wednesday’s tune-up against the Colorado Rockies, listing Henderson at third base. The decision comes one day after the United States defeated the San Francisco Giants 15-1 in an exhibition game that Henderson did not start.
Kansas City Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. handled shortstop, Milwaukee Brewers infielder Bryce Turang started at second base and new Chicago Cubs star Alex Bregman was at third. Henderson entered later to replace Witt at shortstop and went 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs.
Now, Henderson slides to third with Bregman at second and Turang on the bench.
Wednesday’s lineup offers an early look at how Team USA may structure its infield when games begin to count. Witt is widely viewed as the team's primary shortstop option, and the move to slot Henderson at third suggests the Orioles star could be the answer at the hot corner.
Henderson’s versatility makes this possible. The 24-year-old has split time between shortstop and third base for Baltimore throughout his career. In 2025, Henderson hit .274 with 158 hits, 17 home runs, 68 RBIs and 85 runs scored across 154 games. Over four major league seasons, he owns a .270 average with 86 home runs and 315 runs scored. He landed Rookie of the Year honors his first season (2023), also taking home a Silver Slugger award. He took a step forward in 2024, finishing fourth in AL MVP voting and making his first All-Star team.
Team USA’s infield depth makes positional versatility important. With Witt at short, Turang capable at second and Bregman also versatile, Henderson’s path to consistent at-bats likely comes at third base. Wednesday’s starting assignment at third signals where the Mark DeRosa and his staff currently envision him when the games begin to count.
For Baltimore, Henderson headlines a lineup expected to contend in a competitive American League East this season. With Pete Alonso now also in the mix, Henderson has some more protection as he maintains his role both as a middle-of-the-order bat and defensive anchor on the left side of the infield. His ability to transition between positions with Team USA is valuable, but expect to see him slotted at short in Baltimore.
Wednesday’s exhibition is the final tune-up for Team USA ahead of their WBC opener against Brazil on Friday.