Gunnar Henderson Struggles at Plate, Seeks Bounce Back on June 29

**Gunnar Henderson** endured a frustrating 0‑for‑4 night on June 29, 2026, as the Baltimore Orioles fell 4‑3 to the opponent in extra innings, highlighting his slide to a .221 batting average.

Henderson opened the game with two strikeouts, then grounded into a force out in the fifth and another groundout in the eighth. He broke the tie in the 10th with a two‑out single that loaded the bases, but the Orioles could not convert, sealing a 4‑3 loss.

The former top prospect entered the game hitting .223/.294/.414 over 83 games, but his fastball average fell to .219, a stark contrast to his .305 mark in 2025. Against four‑seamers he managed only a .132 average, the lowest of his career. His chase rate rose to 32.3%, indicating more swings at pitches outside the zone.

Assistant hitting coach Brady North remained upbeat, noting Henderson’s work ethic and his success when he stays in the zone. North emphasized that the player is making the right decisions on hittable pitches, even if off‑zone swings are inflating his numbers.

The team sits below .500 and faces uncertainty at the trade deadline. Henderson, a 2024 All‑Star, is expected to reignite the offense. His recent comments reflected frustration, but also a commitment to daily effort. The pressure to produce is mounting as the Orioles evaluate whether to buy or sell.

Opposing pitchers are feeding him more off‑speed stuff, yet Henderson insists he can handle it, citing past success. He plans to continue working on pitch recognition and zone discipline. The next game will test whether his adjustments translate into a hit and help the Orioles climb out of the slump.

The article cuts off before a full health report, but mentions the Orioles are down to only eight players, hinting at ongoing roster challenges that could affect Henderson’s playing time.