SARASOTA, Fla. — The Baltimore Orioles’ shortstop, Gunnar Henderson, is set to start the season on the injured list due to a mild strain affecting his right intercostal muscles. The Orioles’ General Manager, Mike Elias, expressed optimism, stating that he expects Henderson’s recovery period to be short, ideally spanning days rather than weeks.
The team is preparing for their opening game in Toronto on Thursday. Henderson, aged 23, exited a spring training match on February 27 after experiencing discomfort along his lower right side. An intercostal strain refers to injuries involving the muscles located around the ribs.
During the previous season, Henderson showcased impressive performance by hitting .281 alongside achieving 37 home runs and driving in 92 RBIs. The young star earned the accolade of American League Rookie of the Year in 2023.
In other team updates shared by Elias from Florida, it was announced that Cade Povich has secured the position of the team’s No. 5 starting pitcher. The left-handed pitcher is scheduled to take the mound for Baltimore’s home opener against Boston on March 31. Povich, who will be turning 25 on April 12, originally joined the Minnesota Twins as a third-round draft pick in 2021 before being traded to the Orioles in August 2022.
Povich made his major league debut last year, ending with a 3-9 record and an ERA of 5.20 over 16 starts. Additionally, the Orioles have decided to send outfielder Dylan Carlson to their minor league camp. Carlson, 26, had agreed to a one-year, $975,000 contract earlier in January.
Despite the minor league assignment, Carlson performed well in spring training, achieving a .321 batting average with two home runs and nine RBIs over 18 games in the Grapefruit League.