Gunnar Henderson didn’t just snap a 14-game homerless streak Friday night. He carved his name into a piece of Orioles history that only four players in franchise history have touched.
The 24-year-old shortstop launched his 100th career home run in the fourth inning of Baltimore’s 7-3 win over the San Diego Padres, a solo shot to the right-field flag court that traveled 386 feet and left the bat at 108.8 mph. The milestone blast extended the Orioles’ lead to 7-2 and ended a drought that had stretched since mid-May.
Henderson reached the century mark in his 567th career game, making him one of the fastest Orioles-developed players to get there. Only Anthony Santander (526 games), Trey Mancini (531), and Boog Powell (564) needed fewer contests after debuting with Baltimore. But the more telling stat might be his age: at 24 years and 348 days, Henderson became the fourth-youngest player in franchise history to notch 100 homers, behind only Powell, Eddie Murray, and Manny Machado.
Henderson is now tied with Cal Ripken Jr. for home runs hit by an Orioles player before turning 25. Among everyone in franchise history, only Powell (127), Machado (121), and Murray (111) had more homers before their 25th birthday.
“To be mentioned alongside those names — that’s special,” Henderson said after the game, according to team reporters. “But honestly, I was just trying to get a good pitch to hit. It’s been a little while.”
His 14th homer of the 2026 season moved him within three of his total from the 2025 campaign and ranks second on the team behind Pete Alonso’s 15.
Orioles Offense Keeps Rolling
Baltimore’s lineup has now scored at least seven runs in three straight games, and they wasted no time putting Friday’s contest out of reach. The Orioles jumped on Padres starter Griffin Canning for three runs in both the first and second innings.
Rookie catcher Samuel Basallo started the fireworks with a two-run homer in the opening frame. Alonso added a two-run single in the second, and Tyler O’Neill chipped in two hits. Jackson Holliday and Adley Rutschman each drove in a run with sacrifice flies.
The cushion was plenty for starter Shane Baz, who worked five innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits. Baz improved to 4-6 despite issuing two walks and recording only one strikeout over 102 pitches. The bullpen trio of Anthony Nunez, Keegan Akin, Yennier Cano, and Andrew Kittredge then slammed the door, allowing just one hit across four scoreless innings.
At 24 years old with No. 100 in the books, Henderson is on a trajectory that Orioles fans have learned to expect — but that doesn’t make it any less remarkable to watch unfold.
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