How did 29 MLB teams pass on Orioles superstar Gunnar Henderson?

At just 22 years old, the Baltimore shortstop is already an MVP candidate, so why did he fall to the second round of the 2019 Draft?

Orioles' Gunnar Henderson gets encouraging Spring Training update

Gunnar Henderson, for about an hour, thought he was going to college.

It was June 3, 2019, the first day of that year’s Major League Baseball Draft, and Henderson — now a 22-year-old supernova shortstop for the Baltimore Orioles — was then a baby-faced teenager sweating through the biggest day of his young life. Unlike the class’ truly elite prospects, who were either on-site at the draft in New Jersey or had elaborate camera setups at home, Henderson’s draft party was a low-key affair. He took in the proceedings at the house of a coach, surrounded by about 20 family and friends.

Ahead of the draft, the high school infielder from Selma, Alabama, was a known commodity, highly touted and highly scouted. A string of strong performances in front of MLB scouts on the showcase circuit the summer before had solidified him as one of the more promising prep hitters in the class. Most major publications pegged Henderson somewhere toward the back half of the first round, between picks No. 14 and 37.

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But that’s not how it went. As the picks flicked by, Henderson’s phone stayed silent.

Teams that had shown some level of pre-draft interest went in other directions. The Phillies took UNLV shortstop Bryson Stott at No. 14. Washington tabbed junior college pitcher Jackson Rutledge at 17. The Rays and Dodgers, at picks 22 and 25, had been rumored landing spots for Henderson, but they selected college infielders instead. With each name called, it became increasingly unlikely that a club would draft the sweet-swinging 17-year-old high enough to meet his bonus demands, reportedly around $2 million.

That’s when reality started to dawn on Henderson.

“As it got to the later half and the Astros — they were kind of hot on me — once they picked, I just kinda, like, told everybody: I’m gonna go to Auburn,” Henderson recounted to Yahoo Sports on a recent spring day at Camden Yards.

Then, out of nowhere, the Orioles called.

Henderson says Baltimore hadn’t contacted him or his agent before the draft. Such an approach is actually common practice for a number of teams, who use the tactic to retain leverage. For Henderson, it was a wonderful surprise.

Baltimore, which had already selected Oregon State catcher Adley Rutschman with the No. 1 pick, planned to surpass Henderson’s financial ask with a $2.3 million signing bonus. The doormat Orioles, coming off a franchise-worst 47-115 season, chose him with the 42nd overall pick, the first selection of the second round. It was later in the night than Henderson had hoped, but the bonus was sufficient for him to forgo his commitment to Auburn. Henderson would turn pro.