The main concern during spring training is ensuring that key Orioles players remain healthy. Unfortunately for Baltimore fans, the game brought some bad news, as shortstop exited after just one inning. The team later reported that he left due to “lower right side discomfort.”
This wasn’t the only infield injury update for the Orioles that day. Before the game, the team announced that Jordan Westburg, who had been absent from the lineup for a few days, is dealing with a back issue. He’s receiving treatment and is expected to return in a few days—hopefully, that timeline holds.
Thursday’s game against the Blue Jays wasn’t televised, so there was no way to visually confirm what happened to Gunnar Henderson. In the top of the first inning, he made a leaping catch, and in the bottom half, he sprinted to first while trying to beat out a misplayed grounder. He was replaced in the field for the second inning by Luis Vásquez.
After the game, manager Brandon Hyde told reporters that Henderson’s discomfort resulted from landing on his side after the catch. The team does not plan to conduct an MRI, and he will be re-evaluated tomorrow.
The severity of Henderson’s injury will determine the level of concern. If it’s an oblique strain, his status for Opening Day could be in jeopardy. If it’s just a minor cramp or muscle tweak, the team may simply be playing it safe due to the low stakes of spring training.
Regardless, it’s never ideal to worry about injuries—especially to a star player. There’s no real contingency plan for losing a nine-WAR, MVP-caliber shortstop for any length of time. So while there’s no need to panic just yet, it’s understandable if you’re holding your breath a little.