SARASOTA—Gunnar Henderson said he plans to be ready for the Orioles’ opener on March 27^th in Toronto. The Orioles’ shortstop, who strained a right intercostal muscle on February 27^th, remains optimistic despite not having played for 16 days.

“I’ve been swinging and taking ground balls and stuff so I’m on the right track, progressing,” Henderson said on Saturday morning. “It’s getting there. It’s a lot better than what it originally felt like.”

Henderson wants to play at the Rogers Centre, 12 days from now.

“That’s my plan. That’s what I’m hoping for,” he said.

In 2024, Henderson was held out of early Grapefruit League games with an oblique injury but still played in 159 games, finished fourth in American League Most Valuable Player voting and was named Most Valuable Oriole for the second straight time.

“This one is a little bit unique in the sense of what I had happen last year,” he said. “This one, kind of lingering. I’m going out there to do whatever I can to make it to Opening Day,” he said.

Henderson sustained the injury in the first inning on February 27^th when he made a catch on Bo Bichette’s line drive and was removed from the game after he took one at-bat.

“The body was in a weird, awkward position whenever I caught the ball, and landed it on it weird and it didn’t feel good,” Henderson said.

Henderson has just six Grapefruit League at-bats, and with only another week until the Orioles leave Florida, he’s confident he’ll play in more games and get enough at-bats to be ready for the regular season.

“That’s the plan,” Henderson said.

Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: [email protected].