My take on the future leadoff hitter for the Orioles

O's rank among MLB's best at the top with Gunnar Henderson

The leadoff hitter for the Orioles is Gunnar Henderson and there is very little doubt about that. He put up big numbers last year when batting first, where he hit in 75 percent of his games.

The concern currently is to get Gunnar back on the field as he deals with what the club is calling a very mild intercostal strain on his right side. He has not played since the injury happened in the first inning last Thursday at Ed Smith Stadium.

But Henderson has put up big numbers batting first.

Last year he batted leadoff in 119 of 159 games and for his career he has batted in the top spot in the order 160 times with 648 at-bats.

So that is essentially a full year’s worth of stats and he has produced this line: .284/.358/.552/.911 with 33 doubles, nine triples, 41 homers and 101 RBIs. He has posted MVP-type numbers there.