Baltimore Orioles infielder Gunnar Henderson got off to a delayed start at spring training, but he looked ready for Thursday’s season-opener any way as he cracked a 451-foot home run in Sunday’s Grapefruit League game against the Minnesota Twins.

The former Morgan Academy standout and Alabama’s 2019 Mr. Baseball will try to build on his award-winning 2023 season. Named the American League Rookie of the Year and the Orioles’ Most Valuable Player in 2023, Henderson batted .255 with a .325 on-base average and .489 slugging percentage. He had 100 runs, 29 doubles, nine triples, 28 home runs and 82 RBIs last season.

“I felt like there were a lot of things I didn’t do that great,” Henderson said. “I mean, there were some that I did pretty well. But I feel like there’s still a lot of room to improve, and I know that there’s a lot more in the tank.”

As a rookie, Henderson divided his time between shortstop and third base. In 1,179.3 innings on the field, Henderson played 10 more at third base than at shortstop.

This season, Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde intends to use Henderson primarily at shortstop.

“This is what I was drafted as and what I’ve played my whole life growing up,” Henderson said. “… They told me pretty much going into spring training. I kind of had an idea, but I came in with the right mindset and was just able to take most of my reps there and get ready to play every day at short.”

Oblique soreness kept Henderson off the field for the first nine days of the Grapefruit League season. But he reported to Florida ready to play with nine more pounds on his physique than as a 22-year-old rookie.

“I didn’t even try,” Henderson said. “But yeah, it’s part of naturally growing and getting bigger and filling out. But the body feels good. I feel mobile. I feel lots of strength. It’s awesome.”

The Orioles open their 2024 schedule against the Los Angeles Angels at 2:05 p.m. CDT Thursday at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore.

In 2023, the Orioles won the AL East for the first time since 2014 and recorded their first 100-victory season since 1980.

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.