Orioles' Gunnar Henderson named among likely MVP candidates amid 'torrid' start
It might finally be Henderson's time to shine in the MVP race.
Orioles' Gunnar Henderson named among likely MVP candidates amid 'torrid' start originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The Baltimore Orioles are off to a strong start to the season, tied atop the American League East with the New York Yankees .
And there's still plenty of room to improve. But if there were one part of the team that's operating at full capacity, it would be Gunnar Henderson, who's back on the MVP track amid a great start to the year. MLB.
com's Will Leitch named a few likely and unlikely MVP candidates this year so far, and Henderson, amid a "torrid" start to the season, was named as one of the likely MVP candidates to steal the award from Aaron Judge. Gunnar Henderson named as likely MVP candidate "But he's off to a torrid start in 2026, tied for the AL lead in homers with six and even stealing three bases; could this be his first 30-30 season? " Leitch writes.
"The Orioles look primed to contend this year, and Henderson is their best player. Imagine what his numbers will look like when Pete Alonso gets going, hitting behind him. " Henderson has been a name floating around as one of the best hitters in Major League Baseball, and that felt even more likely to be the case after his incredible 2024 season.