The Boston Red Sox haven’t come out of Spring Training unscathed as they prepare for Opening Day. Brayan Bello was placed on the injured list with a shoulder injury and Lucas Giolito left his first Grapefruit League start with hamstring tightness this week. The Red Sox are also pessimistic about Kutter Crawford’s availability with a knee injury which may dampen any enthusiasm for the March 27 opener at the Texas Rangers.
But if the Red Sox want to feel better about themselves, they can take a look around the rest of the American League East. The New York Yankees lost Gerrit Cole for the season after it was announced he would be undergoing Tommy John surgery and Boston received a boost when another division rival was dealt some injury news on Thursday morning.
Orioles Could Be Without Gunnar Henderson For Opening Day
MLB Network’s Jon Morosi revealed that the Baltimore Orioles could be without Gunnar Henderson for Opening Day as he recovers from an intercostal strain suffered earlier this month. While the All-Star shortstop has resumed baseball activities, Morosi noted that time was running out for him to be ready for the start of the season.
“There’s still a chance for Gunnar Henderson to get back and be part of the Orioles’ Opening Day lineup. But time is short because he continues to deal with an intercostal strain that has recently held him out of game action,” Morosi said. “...There’s been some talk about when, potentially, Henderson can come back. …He has been taking some swings in a cage. He’s been able to get some ground balls with the intercostal strain, but at the moment in time, it’s still TBD on whether or not he’s able to come back and be there in the Opening Day lineup.”
Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson has resumed baseball activities, but his status for Opening Day remains up in the air.#MLBNHotStove | @jonmorosi pic.twitter.com/AJlnI4BO8T
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) March 13, 2025
For what it’s worth, Henderson was optimistic about his recovery earlier this week but did not commit to being in the Orioles lineup for Opening Day.
“I’m progressing really well,” Henderson said in an interview with MLB Network. “Right now, everything’s feeling good. I got to take some ground balls today, swung a little bit more so we’re making strides in the right direction. …At this point, it’s just going to be getting the at-bats [that] I feel I need to be ready. So like I said, I’m progressing pretty well, so I should be able to get that done.”
Neither comments suggest Henderson’s injury is a long-term issue but the Orioles can’t afford to be without him for any length of time. Henderson played in 159 games last season, hitting .281/.364/.529 with 37 home runs, 92 RBI and 21 stolen bases on 25 attempts. The 23-year-old also put up a whopping 9.1 wins above replacement and finished fourth in the American League Most Valuable Player Award voting last season before they were swept in two games by the Kansas City Royals in the American League Wild Card Series.
If Henderson is unable to go for Opening Day, there's a good chance he would miss a three-game series against the Red Sox when they travel to Camden Yards from March 31 to April 3. This would be a big advantage for Boston after Henderson hit .255/.328/.636 with five home runs and 12 RBI in 13 games against the Red Sox last season.
Henderson’s injury is unlikely to swing the balance of power in the American League East this season but it could help the Red Sox have a fast start as they look to contend in 2025.