Brian Roberts, who spent 2001-2013 with the Orioles, believes Gunnar Henderson could be one of baseball’s best when it’s all said and done.

Besides playing for the Orioles, what do Cal Ripken Jr., Brady Anderson, Zach Britton, and Manny Machado all have in common?

They were teammates with Orioles infielder Brian Roberts, of course!

Indeed, Roberts’ time as the Orioles’ leadoff man and starting second baseman literally spanned generations.

He was a rookie during legend Cal Ripken Jr’s final season in Baltimore in 2001, and a veteran mentor to young infielders Manny Machado and Jonathan Schoop at the end of his Orioles’ career in 2013.

Roberts was an All Star in his best season in Baltimore in 2005 (he was also an All Star in 2007), setting the table for a robust lineup that included Melvin Mora, Miguel Tejada, Rafael Palmeiro, Sammy Sosa, and Javy Lopez.

So when Brian Roberts shares a baseball-related opinion, it is best to listen.

The longtime Oriole, who has been working with Henderson and second-baseman Jackson Holliday this spring in Sarasota, heaped praise on the Orioles shortstop and leadoff man, saying that Henderson will be one of the greatest players in all of MLB over the next ten years.

Former Oriole Brian Roberts expects Gunnar Henderson to be among baseball’s best for next decade
Respect from one Orioles middle infield staple to another 🤝 pic.twitter.com/mxiOrjRrd4

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) March 1, 2025

Roberts’ statement is far from outlandish.

While projections for Holliday are rightfully bullish, many expert Henderson to be in the running for MVP in 2025, just as he was for much of 2024. Indeed, in the first half of 2024, Henderson was arguably in a three-player race with Aaron Judge and Juan Soto for the AL MVP.

Earning his first All Star starting nod, Henderson was batting .286 with 28 home runs, 63 RBIs, and a .957 OPS at the break.

He struggled somewhat in the second half, hitting only 9 home runs en route to a .799 OPS. Nevertheless, there is plenty of reason for optimism for Henderson, who is entering his third full season in Baltimore.

If early spring lineups are any indication, Henderson is likely to remain at the top of the Orioles’ lineup to start the season. It seems like a wise choice as he hit 31 of his 37 home runs from the leadoff spot last season and posted a .941 OPS there as well.

A full season with an OPS in the mid-900s will certainly place Henderson in the conversation for one of the league’s best players.

Gunnar Henderson and Jackson Holliday have been getting some double play work in with Brian Roberts and J. J. Hardy 🤝

The 13-year Oriole spoke on being a guest coach and getting to work with all the young talent at #SpringTraining camp. pic.twitter.com/JJEhDLYoHz

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) February 25, 2025

Of course, Henderson is one of many young rising stars in baseball who are looking to lay claim to the title of MLB’s best over the next ten years.

Henderson’s counterpart in the AL Wild Card against Kansas City, Bobby Witt, Jr., will compete with Henderson over the next ten years to become one of the faces of MLB. Witt not only beat Henderson in the playoffs last year, but also topped him in the MVP voting (Witt finished second, Henderson fourth).

Like Henderson, Witt has prodigious, all-field power, is a strong defender, base stealer, and hitter in general.

Joining Witt and Henderson in the battle for the league’s best over the next ten years are Shohei Ohtani, Elly De La Cruz of the Reds, Soto, and Ronald Acuña who, when healthy, is as electric as they come. In other words, Henderson has his work cut out if Brian Roberts’ statement will prove to be prophetic.

Regardless, there are two key takeaways from this analysis.

One, Roberts’ comment represents incredible praise of Henderson, and is a true testament of the talent and work Henderson has and will continue to put in to be among the league’s best.

Two, regardless of where Henderson lands among the best players in baseball in the next ten years, it will be an absolutely joy watching him compete with Witt, Ohtani, De La Cruz, and Acuña for the title of league’s best.