The Baltimore Orioles were led by a young dynamic duo in the first half of the 2024 regular season. Shortstop Gunnar Henderson and Third Baseman Jordan Westburg are the first teammates in MLB history to combine for 40+ doubles, 10+ triples & 40+ home runs before the All-Star break. Henderson had a tremendous first half of the regular season that culminated in him being named to his first MLB All-Star Game earlier this season. Henderson went 0-of-2 earlier this week in the “Midsummer Classic.” Henderson is top 10 in the league this season in home runs, RBI, and OPS.
Westburg is hitting .271 this season with 15 home runs and 50 RBI. Henderson and Westburg are tied for eighth in the league with five triples. Will this duo be able to keep up their historic pace as the Baltimore Orioles prepare for what will be a critical second half of the 2024 season?
Henderson and Westburg Career Summary
The @Orioles' Gunnar Henderson & Jordan Westburg in the first half:
Doubles: 40
Triples: 10
Home runs: 43They're the first teammate duo in MLB history to combine for 40+ doubles, 10+ triples & 40+ homers prior to the All-Star break.
Henderson is 23 years old & Westburg is 25. pic.twitter.com/w88f9k9eSN
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) July 19, 2024
Gunnar Henderson was named the top prospect in Major League Baseball before the 2023 season. He debuted with the Baltimore Orioles in 2022 and has been a full-time player for the ballclub over the last two years. He had a standout 2023 campaign as he was named Rookie of the Year, a Silver Slugger, and finished eighth in American League MVP voting. Shohei Ohtani was named the 2023 AL MVP. Henderson is a career .267 hitter with 60 home runs and 163 RBI.
Westburg also made his first all-star game this year, and much like Henderson, was a highly-touted prospect before getting the call-up to the big leagues. Westburg also went hitless in Tuesday’s MLB All-Star Game. He made his debut as a member of the Baltimore Orioles in June of 2023 playing both second and third base last season. He is a career .267 hitter with 18 home runs and 73 RBI.
Baltimore Orioles Season Summary
The Orioles(58-38) had a great first half of the regular season. They hold a one-game lead in the American League East and have the third-best record in Major League Baseball. Baltimore has been paced by a great offense this season. They are ninth in batting average, are leading the league in home runs, and are fifth in runs scored. Henderson is the engine that made the Baltimore Orioles offense go during the first half of the season. Henderson leads the team in every important offensive category.
Baltimore’s pitching staff has also been great in 2024. They are sixth in ERA, 12th in strikeouts, and fifth in opposing batting average. Starting Pitcher Grayson Rodriguez is second in the league with 11 victories and Corbin Burnes is third in the league with an ERA of 2.43. Closer Craig Kimbrel is also fourth in the league with 23 saves while Relief Pitcher Yennier Cano is fourth in the league with 24 holds.
Baltimore’s Upcoming Schedule
The Baltimore Orioles begin the second half with a six-game road trip against the defending champion Texas Rangers and the Miami Marlins. The Orioles were swept last season by the Rangers in the ALDS, being outscored 21-11 over those three games.
Baltimore has one of the best rosters in the league and looks well on their way to making the MLB Playoffs for the second consecutive season for the first time in nearly 20 years. Both Henderson and Westburg will need to continue playing well for the team to reach its fullest potential and make a deep run in the 2024 MLB Playoffs.
