Henderson hammers 100th career HR, joining elite O's company

BALTIMORE -- Gunnar Henderson entered Friday on a 14-game homerless streak. That also meant the Orioles shortstop’s career home run total was stuck at 99.

On Friday night, Henderson finally hit No. 100.

Henderson went deep during the fourth inning of Baltimore’s series-opening 7-3 win over San Diego at Camden Yards, blasting a solo shot to the right-field flag court that extended the O’s lead to 7-2. It was Henderson’s first long ball since he homered twice during an 11-2 win over the Rays on May 27.

Did Henderson realize he had been sitting on 99 over the past two-plus weeks?

“I had an idea, but I never obviously looked it up to get a hard, ‘All right, I’m at 99,’” Henderson said. “I had a pretty good idea. But yeah, never really fully guaranteed myself that I knew I was at 99.”

It may have been a bit of a wait of late, but Henderson reached this milestone at a blistering pace, given he’s not even 25 yet.

At 24 years and 348 days old, Henderson became the fourth-youngest player in Orioles history to hit 100 home runs with the team. That put him behind only Manny Machado (24 years, 55 days) -- who started at third base for the Padres -- Eddie Murray (24, 177) and Boog Powell (24, 264). There are only five O’s players who have gotten to 100 for the club before turning 25 -- those four as well as Cal Ripken Jr. (24, 356).

Henderson’s milestone homer came in his 567th career game. The only three players to debut with Baltimore and reach 100 home runs in a fewer number of contests were Anthony Santander (526), Trey Mancini (531) and Powell (564).

“I feel like it's just a cool achievement. The game of baseball, obviously, it's cool to get to that number,” Henderson said. “But hopefully, a lot more coming.”

When asked if he had a favorite home run among the first 100, Henderson picked two -- his first homer in his MLB debut in Cleveland on Aug. 31, 2022, and his career-long Statcast-projected 462-foot blast vs. the Royals that landed on Camden Yards’ Eutaw Street on June 11, 2023.

While Henderson was already looking toward hitting more, the O’s made sure he relished the moment, celebrating the accomplishment in the clubhouse postgame.

“It’s a great accomplishment -- never mind being 24 years old,” manager Craig Albernaz said.

“That’s a big accomplishment,” designated hitter Samuel Basallo added. “I’m happy for him, and I hope he can keep doing that.”

The Orioles’ bats have been heating up this week, as Friday marked the third consecutive game in which they scored seven runs. The previous two were victories over the Mariners that earned the O’s a split in a four-game set. They have also won three straight after losing four in a row before that.

Baltimore (34-37) kept the offensive momentum going in the opener against the Padres. Basallo hit a two-run homer during a three-run first inning, then Pete Alonso knocked a two-run single in a three-run second.

Basallo’s home run was his 10th of the season, but it was also the 14th of his 89-game MLB career. Given he’s only 21 himself, is Basallo envisioning a friendly chase to see if he can get to 100 homers quicker than Henderson?

“It’s not a competition,” Basallo said with a smile. “But I mean, I want to get there fast.”

Henderson’s Statcast-projected 386-foot homer off San Diego starter Griffin Canning left the bat at 108.8 mph. Henderson already has 14 home runs this season (second on the O’s behind only Alonso’s 15), which has him three shy of his 2025 total.

Not only had Henderson not been hitting home runs of late, but he had been scuffling a bit at the plate. During his 14-game homerless streak, he batted .200 (11-for-55) with a .578 OPS. He entered Friday hitting .218 with a .689 OPS this season.

But this could be the start of a summer surge for Henderson, who has a history of his offensive numbers improving as the weather heats up. He reached base in all four of his plate appearances in Friday’s win, going 3-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored.

“We’ve been talking about it, that he’s close, and especially during this homestand,” Albernaz said. “Today was a culmination of everything. Saw the power, obviously, and another great walk against a tough lefty [Wandy Peralta], and two [singles].

“So yeah, I think Gunnar is about to have some fun now.”