Those days are gone. Now, Henderson is the No. 1 prospect in baseball after mastering Double-A and Triple-A and making his MLB debut for the Orioles on Aug. 31.
“Henderson has the potential for an average hit tool with current above-average power that could turn into plus power down the line,” we wrote in his scouting report for the 2019 draft, back when he was a high school shortstop in Alabama. Baltimore drafted him in the second round.
Of Henderson’s defensive upside, we wrote that “some scouts believe Henderson will need to move to third base, where he has plus defensive potential with solid hands and 60-grade arm strength.”
Those prognostications turned out to be accurate. Three years later, Henderson draws plus or better grades across the board. His advanced plate discipline elevates the whole package.
Buckle up, Orioles fans. Henderson and Adley Rutschman, last year’s top Orioles prospect, are poised to take Baltimore to the postseason for the first time since 2016.
Ranking the AL East farm systems after the 2022 season
Baltimore Orioles
No. 1 system
The Orioles’ system boasts Gunnar Henderson, the top position prospect in baseball, and Grayson Rodriguez, the top pitching prospect. Add No. 1 overall pick Jackson Holliday and three other Top 100 Prospects—DL Hall, Colton Cowser and Jordan Westburg—and a wave of talent is headed to Baltimore.
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Boston Red Sox
No. 11 system
Shortstop Marcelo Mayer looks even more like the potential star many pegged him as in the 2021 draft, while power-hitting first baseman Triston Casas made his MLB debut in September. The breakout of center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela adds heft to a system that has lower-level talent poised to bust out.
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Tampa Bay Rays
No. 12 system
The Rays continue to produce bat-first position players, led by Curtis Mead and Jonathan Aranda, and a never-ending line of pitching prospects, led by righthanders Shane Baz and Taj Bradley. Shortstop Carson Williams and first baseman Kyle Manzardo, both 2021 draft picks, lead the next wave.
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Toronto Blue Jays
No. 15 system
The Blue Jays have traded from their farm system heavily in recent years—dealing first-rounders Austin Martin, Gunnar Hoglund and Jordan Groshans—but have typically held onto top talents such as Gabriel Moreno and Ricky Tiedemann, while adding talent in the draft and international free agency.
Page 37
New York Yankees
No. 17 system
Shortstops Anthony Volpe and Oswald Peraza are the crown jewels, but outfielders Jasson Dominguez and Everson Pereira and catcher Austin Wells have all shown flashes
