Mark DeRosa's Gunnar Henderson WBC snub confirms Orioles perception problem

Team USA manager Mark DeRosa left Baltimore Orioles fans with a parting frustration ahead of the 2026 World Baseball Classic championship game. Despite Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson being one of the top performers during the tournament, and homering in the semi-final game against the Dominican Republic, he was relegated to the bench during Tuesday's game against Venezuela.

Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman started at third base during USA's 3-2 loss to Venezuela, and the primary reason was DeRosa's tendency to rely on lefty-righty splits. Left-handed starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez was the starter for Venezuela, and in fairness to Team USA's manager, there was logic in sitting Henderson.

That being said, it's not as if Bregman had a strong showing during the World Baseball Classic. Bregman's slash line during the tournament was .143/.364/.214. Bregman has had past success against Rodriguez, but perhaps the situation called for DeRosa to ride the hot hand.

Bregman went hitless through his first three plate appearances, and Henderson recorded an out in his only at-bat of the game.

Snubbing Henderson throughout the World Baseball Classic wasn't the primary reason why DeRosa and Team USA fell short, but it was a sign that the Orioles' superstar may not be respected across the national scene. Look no further than how The Athletic's Katie Woo described Henderson ahead of Tuesday's championship game.

"He could stick with the experience and prestige of his starter, Alex Bregman, despite the three-time All-Star’s lack of production in the WBC. Or he could look to Gunnar Henderson, the versatile utility infielder hitting .500 in tournament play, who had a strong track record against opposing starter Luis Severino."

Gunnar Henderson's World Baseball Classic run proved Orioles may not be respected

Instead of referring to Henderson as the star of the Orioles or one of the better infielders in the American League, the MLB insider called him a "versatile utility infielder". It's certainly possible that Woo was referring to Henderson's role on Team USA, but that doesn't really match with her perception of Bregman, referring to his pedigree in Major League Baseball.

Perhaps that was the reason why DeRosa didn't deviate from the strategy he used throughout the tournament. In a sense, Bregman earned the benefit of the doubt, and Henderson didn't. The problem with that is in a one-or-go-home game, it's egregious that one of the best-performing hitters of the World Baseball Classic only got one at-bat.

Henderson starting Tuesday's game may not have made a difference, but the takeaway is that the Orioles may first need to become a contender before their stars are taken seriously.