2024 marks PressBox’s eighth annual Best Of edition celebrating the top people, performances and moments of the year.
Best Oriole
There’s only one Oriole who has ever had a better season than Gunnar Henderson did in 2024, according to Baseball Reference: Cal Ripken Jr.
Henderson posted a 9.1 WAR, third in club history behind Ripken’s marks of 11.5 in 1991 and 10.0 in 1984. Henderson hit .281/.364/.529 with 37 home runs while starting at shortstop in all but five games, earning his first All-Star nod in the process.
The scary thing for the rest of baseball is that he may have another gear. Imagine if Henderson can find a way to hit the way he did in the first half — .287/.373/.584 with 28 homers — for an entire season. Remember, he doesn’t even turn 24 until June!
Photo Credit: Kenya Allen/PressBox
For more Best Of, visit PressBoxOnline.com/BestOf.
Plus: Check out PressBox’s 2024 Mo Gaba Sportsperson of the Year, Lamar Jackson.
