The Baltimore Orioles are enduring a rough patch with Colton Cowser’s injury adding to a growing list of sidelined players, including Gunnar Henderson, Grayson Rodriguez, and Andrew Kittredge.

Despite these setbacks, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports reports that the Orioles are hopeful about Henderson’s return, with plans to activate him from the IL on Thursday against the Boston Red Sox.

His comeback is a welcome boost for the team, with Ryan O’Hearn emphasizing his importance to their success.

“Oh yeah. We got like one of the best players in the world coming back,” first baseman Ryan O’Hearn said on Monday. “So that’s a good thing.”

Gunnar Henderson Nearing 2025 Debut

Manager Brandon Hyde said that Henderson is set to return as soon as he’s eligible. Henderson was outstanding in 2024, batting .281/.364/.529 with 37 home runs and 92 RBI in 159 games. It was enough to earn him a fourth-place finish in American League MVP voting and his first All-Star selection.

Despite missing the first series of the season, Henderson is on track to return soon, following a cautious approach by the Orioles to avoid further injury. In his rehab games at Triple-A Norfolk, Henderson is hitting .333 with one home and three RBI.

Henderson appeared in three Grapefruit League games this spring, recording one hit in six at-bats. He sustained an injury on February 27, during a jumping catch in the first inning of a game against the Toronto Blue Jays, and didn’t return to play after that.

Before Cowser’s injury, the Orioles faced a potential roster crunch with Henderson’s return, having to consider moves like optioning Heston Kjerstad or designating Jorge Mateo for assignment. Now, MLB.com reports that Dylan Carlson, recalled on Monday, will likely be optioned to make room for Henderson.

“It’s a long season, and this is a marathon,” Hyde said. “You want to get off to a good start, you try and stay as healthy as possible. But injuries happen around the league and you just need to keep going. The game’s not going to stop, and the schedule’s not going to stop.”