Gunnar Henderson just wasn’t himself in 2026

Camden Chat's John Beers argues that Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson experienced a disappointing 2026 season that embodied the team's frustrating campaign. Despite accumulating a respectable 3.2 bWAR, 24 home runs, and leading the American League with 623 at-bats under manager Craig Albernaz, the writer contends that Henderson took a notable step backward for the second consecutive year following his elite 2024 MVP-candidate form.

Beers highlights that Henderson struggled with offensive consistency, starting with an aggressive, strikeout-heavy April before seeing his slugging numbers drop significantly in May. While Henderson rebounded with a strong August highlighted by a bases-clearing triple against Philadelphia and a four-hit game versus the Athletics, his production waned again down the stretch, leading Beers to label him Baltimore's crucial X-factor entering 2027.