Baltimore Orioles star shortstop Gunnar Henderson has gradually returned to baseball over the past week since missing a spring training warm-up game Feb. 27 with a mild right intercostal muscle strain. The 23-year-old rising star is still confident he can make it in time for the opening game away to the Blue Jays on March 27.

"This is my plan," Henderson said on the morning of March 16, "and this is what I am looking forward to." He began his rehab on March 12, batting in the cage at the Ed Smith Field Training Complex. On March 13, the first training session resumed on the rolling earth, and both activities have been continued.

Rehabilitation is progressing well
Henderson is confident that he can return to action before the end of spring training (March 23) and feels the improvement in his physical condition: "I'm on the right track and improving. The situation is much better than it was at the beginning. Although he has never been on the injured roster in his three-year major league career, he overcame left oblique muscle soreness in spring training last year and completed his first warm-up game on March 4 to prepare for the start of the 2024 season.

Injuries passed
In spring training this year, Henderson hit 1-of-6 in three games before picking up an injury in an exhibition game against the Blue Jays. He jumped to the ground while catching a flying ball shot by Bo Bichette, his body in an awkward position. 'It's a bit of a unique injury, it's different from last year, it's just a little bit repetitive,' Henderson explained, 'and it landed in a weird way after receiving the ball and it didn't feel good. "

Team Impact & Alternatives
If Henderson is on the list of injured players in the opening game, the Golden Orioles will lose a key link. The 2023 American League Rookie of the Year was named an All-Star for the first time last year, hitting 31 second-run hits, seven third-run hits and 37 home runs in 159 games, contributing 92 RBIs and an attack index of 0.893. He was a regular defender last year and has shown great potential with his excellent defensive range and is expected to go to the next level this season.

If Henderson doesn't return in time, Jackson Holliday is expected to move from second base to guard the Partisans, with Jordan Westburg also providing deep support. Tool man Livan Soto is expected to fill the 26-man roster.

"We all want him to be ready," said head coach Brandon Hyde, "and it depends on how many hits he gets, how he reacts to the injury after the game, whether he has any soreness and so on." "As the opening game approaches, Henderson's recovery progress will be a key variable in the Orioles' preparation.