Orioles' MVP candidate on the verge of making franchise history

Earlier this season, fans were having discussions about who can claim the title of best shortstop in baseball. In terms of WAR, Bobby Witt Jr has pulled away from the pack a bit, at least in 2024. But there are still a handful of guys, including Francisco Lindor and Elly De La Cruz, who are at least in the conversation.

As Orioles fans are well aware, Gunnar Henderson has worked his way into that conversation as well thanks to a massive breakout season. Henderson has been on a tear all year, hitting .284/.371/.550 with above average defense and baserunning to go along with the impact bat.

While Henderson will likely wind up behind Witt and Aaron Judge in the AL MVP race, he's doing something that hasn't been done in an Orioles uniform in 20 years.

Gunnar Henderson is on pace to set an Orioles' franchise record

Just 4 shortstops in franchise history have ever broken the 30 homer mark, Henderson among them. He's joined franchise icon Cal Ripken Jr, as well as Miguel Tejada and JJ Hardy as the only shortstops to do so.

Henderson currently sits at 33 homers, and he's just one away from tying Ripken and Tejada for the number one spot overall. Ripken hit 34 in 1991, the year in which he won his second AL MVP award, while Tejada tied a career-high and hit 34 dingers in 2004. The only other Orioles' shortstop to reach that mark is JJ Hardy, who hit 30 in 2011.

With 5 weeks remaining and needing just 2 more homers to break the record and stand alone, it seems like a foregone conclusion that Henderson will be the franchise leader by the end of the year.

Henderson got off to a scorching start, hitting 28 homers in the first half en route to a Home Run Derby appearance. He's hit just 5 dingers in the five weeks since the break but even at that pace he'll be able to surpass the record in short order.

While Henderson is nearing the franchise record for homers by a shortstop, he's a long way from the all-time mark by an Orioles' hitter. Chris Davis hit 53 in 2013, and Brady Anderson hit 50 back in 1996. In addition to Davis and Anderson, just 5 other players have broken the 40 homer mark in an Orioles uniform.

Henderson would need to get hot over the next five weeks to break into the 40 club, but he won't be the only Orioles' hitter to have a chance to get there this year. Anthony Santander sits at 38 homers heading into Sunday's games and looks poised to finish with a number well into the 40's.

Whether Henderson can get there remains to be seen but what we've watched him do this year is nothing short of spectacular, even if he falls short of an MVP award.