BALTIMORE — In discussing his recognition as the American League Player of the Week before Tuesday night’s series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays, Orioles infielder Gunnar Henderson credited the team’s hitting coaches for helping him work through the slump that marred the opening months of his rookie season.
“It’s a testament to the hard work and just everything that I’ve gone through [since] the beginning of the year,” Henderson said.
The efforts of Baltimore’s hitting staff were put on full display in an 11-6 victory over Toronto, with a season-high 17 hits extending the Orioles’ winning streak to five. Henderson’s first career grand slam, his third home run in as many games and his fifth of June, came amid a run of home runs from three organizational newcomers who have showcased improved power in Baltimore.
Adam Frazier’s two-run shot in the second inning was his eighth home run in 64 games with the Orioles (42-24). That matches his total from 311 games played for Pittsburgh, San Diego and Seattle across the previous two seasons. He added a run-scoring single in the sixth.
Ryan O’Hearn hit only one home run in 67 games last year for the Kansas City Royals before they designated him for assignment this offseason. An inning after Frazier, he hit his own two-run homer. His .991 OPS ranks as the 12th best by an Oriole in his first 25 games with the franchise. He should continue to see playing time at first base after Baltimore placed Ryan Mountcastle on the 10-day injured list with vertigo.
Released by the New York Yankees and picked up by the Orioles in the wake of Cedric Mullins’ right groin strain, center fielder Aaron Hicks has reached base in all 11 of his games with Baltimore. Hicks is hitting .364 with two home runs and a 1.155 OPS for the Orioles after batting .188 with one home run and a .524 OPS for New York. Before his solo shot in the fourth, Hicks singled in the second and was standing at third base when Henderson’s opposite-field drive off Chris Bassitt barely evaded Toronto center fielder Kevin Kiermaier’s leaping attempt to land in Baltimore’s bullpen.
Before the game, Henderson described going the other way as his “bread and butter.” By sending Bassitt’s cutter on the middle half that direction, he recorded his third opposite-field home run of his June barrage. But Henderson’s improved performance began before the week that earned him AL honors.
Baseball’s preseason top prospect and a favorite to be AL Rookie of the Year, Henderson entered May 9 hitting .174 with a .643 OPS. However, hitting coaches Ryan Fuller and Matt Borgschulte, offensive strategy coach Cody Asche and teammates consistently told him he would make it through his slow start. In 99 plate appearances since May 9, Henderson is hitting .319/.374/.648, with 14 of his 29 hits going for extra bases.
“When you’re in the heat of it, it’s the hardest thing to do is trust it,” Henderson said before the game. “But don’t take the words lightly when somebody says it, just trust the process. It’s very hard to do in the heat of things, but once you get through it, you’re very thankful that you went through it and you know how to get through it in the future.”
The Orioles’ offense wasn’t dependent on home runs. Adley Rutschman and Austin Hays both doubled twice, with one of Henderson’s two singles preceding another from Anthony Santander to produce a run in the fifth.
The outburst backed a strong start from right-hander Dean Kremer, who went consecutive starts without issuing a walk for the first time in his career. Kremer allowed a run in the first and fourth innings but managed to get through six for his sixth quality start. Austin Voth and Cionel Pérez combined to allow four runs over the final two innings, prompting closer Félix Bautista to get warm in a game the Orioles led by nine after seven innings. Mike Baumann left the bases loaded in the ninth to leave Bautista in the bullpen.
Tate, Givens near new rehab stints
A pair of right-handed relievers who have combined for fewer than two weeks on the active roster all season are nearing what will be the second rehabilitation assignment for each.
Mychal Givens (right shoulder inflammation) will pitch for Double-A Bowie on Wednesday and Triple-A Norfolk on Friday, manager Brandon Hyde said. Dillon Tate, who was initially diagnosed with a right elbow flexor strain before a stress reaction soon landed him on the 60-day injured list, said he will drive to Norfolk on Wednesday to pitch for the Tides on Thursday and Saturday.
The pair were expected to play key roles in Baltimore’s bullpen. Givens is the Orioles’ highest-paid reliever, rejoining his original organization this offseason after signing a guaranteed $5 million contract as a free agent. He began the season on the 15-day injured list with left knee inflammation and went back on after six appearances, allowing five earned runs in four innings.
Tate led Baltimore in games pitched each of the previous two seasons. He suffered his elbow injury in the offseason and struggled during an initial rehab assignment, with 13 earned runs allowed in 8 1/3 innings across three minor league levels.
Tate said Tuesday in the Orioles’ clubhouse those results were a mix of his health and just getting back up to speed. He added he feels “better than the first go-round.”
“It’s definitely a mental grind more than I realized, and physically, time is going to allow my body to get to where it needs to be,” Tate said. “But the other piece is mental, and it’s just not getting too down on yourself and just staying as tough as I possibly can. Just not quitting on myself.”
