Before the Orioles drafted him in 2019′s second spherical, Gunnar Henderson was dedicated to play baseball at Auburn. But in detailing how he’s dealt with the pressures and a focus which have come together with his standing as baseball’s prime prospect, he evokes Alabama soccer coach Nick Saban.
“Growing up,” Henderson mentioned, “my parents always instilled, ‘Don’t let things get to your head, no matter if it’s good or bad. Just always keep your head down and just humbly work and don’t let all the ‘rat poison’ that people have go to your head.’”
The Sabanism, by which rodent killer is used to explain outdoors noise, doesn’t totally summarize how Henderson and teammate Adley Rutschman seen their respective phrases as the game’s No. 1 general prospect. Both gamers seen that standing with satisfaction however mentioned an important response was to not let it go to their heads.
“It’s a really cool honor, just because for where you’re at at the time, it’s kind of the best place you can be,” Rutschman mentioned. “But you want to make sure it’s not a distraction at the same time. Just take it for what it is.”
Rutschman, the primary general choose within the 2019 draft, and Henderson have topped Baseball America’s listing of the sport’s prime prospects the previous two offseasons, turning into the primary pair of gamers chosen by the identical crew in the identical draft to go back-to-back. The group is properly on observe to make it three winters in a row, with Jackson Holliday, the shortstop Baltimore took with the highest choice in final summer season’s draft, rising to the highest of MLB Pipeline’s rankings Sunday night time.
This week, the Orioles will face the one participant preserving them from one other No. 1 in Baseball America’s eyes, with Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz the lone prospect the publication ranks above Holliday. With De La Cruz already within the majors, the mantle figures to quickly belong to Holliday on each lists. Rutschman, a 25-year-old catcher, and Henderson, a 21-year-old infielder, mentioned they’d be accessible to the 19-year-old wunderkind if he seeks recommendation on how one can deal with what comes with it, although each pointed to Holliday’s maturity and his assist system — notably his father, seven-time All-Star Matt Holliday — in saying they didn’t consider they’d be wanted. But not solely was the elder Holliday by no means baseball’s No. 1 prospect, he additionally by no means cracked Baseball America’s prime 100 throughout his time within the minors.
It speaks to the rarity and problem of topping that listing.
“Not many people can say that they were the No. 1 going through the minor leagues,” Henderson mentioned. “I’m gonna take that with me forever.”
Henderson skyrocketed to the place, going from the No. 42 choose within the draft out of an Alabama highschool and climbing from beneath that spot in rankings at first of final yr to the highest of most lists. Rutschman lengthy appeared destined for it.
After successful College World Series Most Outstanding Player honors as a sophomore at Oregon State, Rutschman spent the following yr anointed because the projected No. 1 general draft choose. He mentioned that have — acting at a fair greater degree regardless of all of the eyes on him — ready him for what he confronted as knowledgeable, instantly deemed the face of Baltimore’s rebuild. Viewed as certainly one of baseball’s finest younger gamers since he was drafted, Rutschman ascended to the highest of prospect rankings getting into final season. He’s lived as much as the billing since; after a runner-up end for American League Rookie of the Year, he’s doubtlessly days away from receiving his first All-Star beginning task.
“It was a cool accomplishment at the time, but I always had my goal set on being in big leagues,” Rutschman mentioned of being No. 1. “You’re all the time pushing on to the following factor.
“It’s just acknowledging it and being thankful for that, thankful that people think highly enough of you to put you in that spot, but also understand that you’ve got to continue to grind, continue to get better, and not be satisfied with that and not let the, I guess, pressure in that dictate how you view yourself when you don’t perform well. Just focusing on the team, people around you, winning. The things that are really important.”
For that purpose, the pair mentioned they hardly ever mentioned the excellence. When Henderson first acquired the honour in the midst of final season whereas with Triple-A Norfolk, he came upon by a flood of tagged posts on Instagram, and Rutschman — already within the majors — was amongst these to ship a congratulatory message, however it hasn’t in any other case been some extent of dialog.
“When I was here, I just wanted Gunnar to be here, too,” Rutschman mentioned. “Definitely just, ‘Congratulations,’ and that was about it.”
Much of the discourse surrounding their prime prospect standing got here from exterior sources. Rutschman and Henderson emphasised that any participant in that spot — Holliday, De La Cruz or in any other case — not permit it to have an effect on what’s to return.
“We know that it’s just a number,” Henderson mentioned. “Just don’t let it get to your head. You received there for a purpose, in order that doesn’t imply the work stops while you get there.
“You don’t want to just let that be where you stop. You want to continue to flourish and continue to get better and better.”
What’s to return?
De La Cruz brings with him a Reds crew that’s maybe the most popular in baseball. Before dropping consecutive video games over the weekend to the National League-best Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati had received 12 in a row to leap to the highest of the NL Central. Since selling De La Cruz earlier this month, the Reds have gone 14-4. Baltimore and Cincinnati are tied for essentially the most comeback wins within the majors with 27.
The Orioles shut a protracted homestand with the Minnesota Twins, who lead the AL Central regardless of a report that might have them tied for final within the AL East. Several former Twins populate Baltimore’s roster. Starting pitcher Kyle Gibson and outfielder Aaron Hicks signed with the Orioles as free brokers after stops elsewhere. Baltimore took starter Tyler Wells from Minnesota within the second spherical of the 2020 Rule 5 draft. Relievers Yennier Cano and Danny Coulombe had been seemingly minor commerce acquisitions from the Twins who’ve emerged as key relievers for the Orioles.
What was good?
Outfielder Anthony Santander’s offensive efficiency had been trending upward since a gradual begin, however it took off over the previous week. Santander has homered in 5 of his previous six video games, hitting .385 and slugging .962 in that span.
He ended April 26 with one residence run, a .205 common and a .599 OPS. Since, he has 13 residence runs and is hitting .299 with a .939 OPS in 50 video games performed. He and supervisor Brandon Hyde credited improved timing on fastballs for his success, higher permitting him to react to off-speed pitches as he did on Sunday’s residence run. He entered Sunday slugging .638 on fastballs in that span, the fifth-best mark among the many greater than 100 hitters who had seen a minimum of 400 of them, in response to Baseball Savant.
What wasn’t?
Even the most effective gamers have dangerous weeks. Rutschman caught in seven straight video games earlier than getting Sunday off as a result of Hyde felt he “could use a break,” ending his week 0-for-14 with six strikeouts and three walks. Hyde famous it may be a “challenge” to maintain Rutschman from burning out, giving that he performs the game’s most demanding place whereas having a major position in Baltimore’s offense.
“There’s only a handful of catchers in the big leagues where they’re also hitting 2 or 3 in the lineup and are a big part of your offense,” Hyde mentioned. “You just try to pick spots.”
To Hyde’s level, Rutschman entered Sunday main all gamers who’re primarily catchers with 70 video games in these spots within the batting order; Los Angeles Dodgers backstop Will Smith was subsequent with 52.
On the farm
No. 9 prospect Coby Mayo continued his current tear in Double-A Bowie, going 11-for-23 with three residence runs, 4 doubles and 4 strikeouts in opposition to three walks — good for a 1.599 OPS. The 21-year-old third baseman entered Sunday hitting .364/.468/.754 since May 21 and is batting .313 with a 1.038 OPS and 14 residence runs general for the Baysox.
Reds at Orioles
Monday, 7:05 p.m.
TV: MASN
Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM
Reds at Orioles
Tuesday, 7:05 p.m.
TV: MASN
Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM
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Source: www.bostonherald.com