Orioles' Henderson to open season on IL, closer Bautista ready to return

Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson will start the 2025 season on the injured list, general manager Mike Elias announced Sunday, according to Jake Rill of MLB.com.

Henderson hasn't appeared in a spring game since suffering a mild right intercostal strain on Feb. 27.

The 23-year-old will miss a minimum of seven days due to spring training back-dating rules, according to MASN's Roch Kubatko. Elias didn't provide a firm timetable for Henderson's regular-season debut but is optimistic that he won't need a prolonged IL stint.

"Obviously, I'm very hopeful that the IL stint will be measured in days instead of weeks, but I don't have a crystal ball," Elias said, per Kubatko. "But he's doing well, and it's a matter of getting him prepared for the season, getting him at-bats, measuring his recovery."

Henderson didn't receive an MRI after sustaining the injury last month. He resumed hitting drills nearly two weeks ago in hopes of being ready for Opening Day.

Henderson is coming off a breakout 2024 season in which he finished fourth in AL MVP voting after hitting .281/.364/.529 with 37 homers, 92 RBIs, and 21 stolen bases for the Orioles. In 2023, he won AL Rookie of the Year and a Silver Slugger.

While Henderson is sidelined, the Orioles can shuffle their infield by moving Jackson Holliday from second base to shortstop and Jordan Westburg from third to second, with former Gold Glove winner Ramón Urías at the hot corner. Holliday said Sunday that he's been told he'll play both second and shortstop to start the year, according to Kubatko.

Utility player Jorge Mateo, who's recovering from elbow surgery, could also factor into the infield equation if his health allows. Although he'll remain in Florida for the next few days, Baltimore has yet to rule out Mateo from the season opener, Elias said, Rill reports.

The Orioles did get one piece of good news Sunday when they revealed that former All-Star closer Félix Bautista will be active for Opening Day, manager Brandon Hyde announced, according to Kubatko.

Bautista, 29, missed all of last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. The 2023 AL Reliever of the Year finally got back on the mound this spring, where he's put up a 7.71 ERA with nine strikeouts and three walks in 4 2/3 Grapefruit League innings.

Injuries have hit the Orioles hard this spring. Reliever Andrew Kittredge underwent knee surgery in early March and will miss the first few months of the season, while young ace Grayson Rodriguez will open the year on the IL due to elbow inflammation. Rodriguez will travel with the team but still needs to build himself back up before returning, according to Andy Kostka of the Baltimore Banner.

Baltimore opens its 2025 season on Thursday afternoon in Toronto. The team's home opener is scheduled for March 31.