Baltimore Orioles infielder Gunnar Henderson burst onto the scene in 2023, winning the American League Rookie of the Year award. His rookie campaign set high expectations for him in 2024, but he has not disappointed.

Typically, we expect outstanding rookies to spend a few years playing at an All-Star level before they can be considered for MVP honors, but Henderson is proving he doesn’t need that time to compete for MVP.

Per DraftKings, he has the fourth-highest odds for AL MVP, behind New York’s Juan Soto, Kansas City’s Bobby Witt Jr. and New York’s Aaron Judge.

In the early weeks of the 2024 season, Henderson made history by becoming the youngest player to hit 10 home runs before May 1, highlighting his raw power and ability to adapt quickly to the big league level.