Henderson exits with side discomfort in precautionary move

Baltimore Orioles star shortstop Gunnar Henderson left Thursday's spring training game against the Toronto Blue Jays with lower right side discomfort, according to MLB.com's Jake Rill.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said postgame that pulling Henderson was a precautionary move after the player landed on the ground following a defensive play in the first inning.

Hyde added the 23-year-old won't have an MRI and will be evaluated again Friday.

Henderson is coming off an incredible 2024 season that earned him a fourth-place finish in AL MVP voting. He accrued 8.0 fWAR while hitting 37 home runs with an .893 OPS (159 OPS+).

Baltimore drafted Henderson in the second round of the 2019 MLB Draft. He won the AL Rookie of the Year award in 2023 and has played at least 150 games in each of the last two seasons.