ORGANIZATION REPORTS
American League
• A young Orioles shortstop shows a wide range of skills in his full-season debut PAGE 47
• A new pitch and new mindset helped a Yankees righthander break through at Double-A PAGE 49
• A Rangers lefthander aims high as he returns from a second Tommy John surgery PAGE 52
National League
• A young Cubs infielder could follow a familiar path to Chicago PAGE 54
• A Dodgers righthander once again earns rave reviews for his changeup PAGE 55
• The Giants see a lot to like in the explosive left arm of a teenage pitcher making his pro debut PAGE 57
BALTIMORE ORIOLES
Shortstop Gunnar Henderson strolled to the plate for his first at-bat with a full-season affiliate and launched a ball 404 feet to the opposite field for a home run.
The Orioles already knew about the 6-foot-2, 210-pound Henderson’s power. That was but one of the tools that prompted them to select the lefthanded hitter in the second round of the 2019 draft out of Morgan Academy in Selma, Ala.
They just wanted to see how quickly he’d adapt to a higher level of competition.
The response came in loud and clear.
Henderson never stopped hitting for Low-A Delmarva and was promoted to High-A Aberdeen on June 20. He helped fuel a six-game sweep of Fredericksburg by going 10-for-23 (.435) with four doubles, one home run, 13 RBIs and seven runs scored.
“Gunnar’s off to a nice start,” Orioles farm director Matt Blood said. “He’s highly competitive and plays with energy every night. His defense at shortstop has been impressive, displaying athleticism and a plus arm. And at the plate he’s shown opposite-field power and is taking his walks.”
The Orioles signed Henderson for $2.3 million as the first pick of the second round, more than $500,000 above slot value. Orioles executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias scouted Henderson about 30 times while serving as Astros scouting director.
The 19-year-old Henderson had a commitment to Auburn but chose to begin his professional career. So far, it has unfolded exactly as the Orioles imagined.
In 35 games for Delmarva, Henderson hit .312/.369/.574 with 11 doubles, a triple, eight home runs, 39 RBIs and 14 walks.
“He’s a really good athlete,” Elias said. “He was an all-state basketball player in Alabama. He runs well, he can throw and he’s got some power and he’s a lefthanded hitter. The ceiling’s really high here.”
—ROCH KUBATKO
BOSTON RED SOX
Though Josh Winckowski was off the baseball map with the absence of a minor league season in 2020, the 22-year-old righthander’s performance at instructional league last fall was sufficiently impressive to convince two teams to trade for him.
A Blue Jays 15th-round pick out of Estero (Fla.) High in 2016, Winckowski topped out at High-A in five seasons in the Toronto organization.
But when the 22-year-old reported to instructional league last fall, his velocity had jumped from the low
