Was There Ever A Doubt? Gunnar Henderson Is Your UNANIMOUS American League Rookie Of The Year!

Unanimous. You read that right, Gunnar Henderson was named UNANIMOUS AL Rookie of the Year after his incredible season. Rough start to the year when he was walking a ton but not hitting, but he finally put it together and went on a tear. UNANIMOUS AL Rookie Of The Year, Silver Slugger Award winner, not bad for a 22 year-old who some wanted sent down the first 3 weeks of the season. Gunnar takes home ROY honors over Tristian Casas of the Red Sox and Tanner Bibee of the Guardians in a runaway victory. It would have been a great race down the stretch if the Rangers' Josh Jung didn't get hurt, but that is how the cookie crumbles, I'm pretty sure Jung is happy with how his year ended.

Again, a slow start to the season for Gunnar but man did he rebound in a huge way. Named Most Valuable Oriole as well, he hit .255, had a .814 OPS, hit 28 homers, 9 triples, 82 RBI, 100 runs, had 66 extra base hits and had a 6.2 bWAR. Again, this guy was hitting .170 in mid-May and climbed all the way back up to win the MVP for the best team in the AL during the regular season. 

And he isn't just a one trick pony. You think he can only hit the ball? Well that's why you're dumb! He also played Gold Glove defense at both third and short this season, the guy is such a well-rounded player. You rarely see prospects like him who come up and excels at all aspects of the game. Offensively, defensively, base-running, baseball IQ, he's the full package and more and if I'm Mike Elias and that bonehead John Angelos, I call Scott Boras right meow to try and get a mega-deal done. He was really the only Oriole to show up in the playoffs, everyone else was asleep at the wheel and Gunnar was the only one with a pulse. And time after time he would come through in the clutch. Big home run whenever they needed it, a base knock the other way to drive in 2, home run off the back wall in Tampa, he was the straw that stirred the Orioles drink this entire year. 

Just look at where he compared to all other rookies in the AL. It's not close, it was never close. It was always Gunnar. He's going to get MVP votes too, and he should. The fact that the Orioles drafted Gunnar and Adley with back-to-back picks is insane, that is a hell of a pick by Elias and company. He's just so good. Like really good. Super deserving of the award and I'm pumped for him. All he wants to do is play baseball and put together Star Wars legos, he's just a little nerdy kid at heart. Hopefully next year he's clearing space above his fire place for his MVP and World Series trophy, this is only the tip of the iceberg for Gunnar, he's a special talent. He was the #1 prospect in baseball for a reason, massive expectations and he exceeded them all. Every single one, this is well deserved for Gun. 

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Now sit back and enjoy some of 2's best moments of the year including some MASSIVE taters. 

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He doesn't carry himself like a 22-year-old, he doesn't act like a 22-year-old, and he doesn't play like a 22-year-old. He's a monster and your 2023 AL Rookie Of The Year.