Gunnar Henderson Homers as Team USA Advances in World Baseball Classic

As the 2026 season draws near, excitement is palpable among Orioles fans, with just ten days remaining until Opening Day. This week marks the final stretch of Grapefruit League games, and tonight the Orioles host the Red Sox at 6:05 PM EDT, followed closely by a pair of exhibitions against the Washington Nationals.

Last night, the Orioles were set to face the New York Yankees, but Mother Nature intervened. The game began on schedule, showcasing Tyler O’Neill’s two-run single that brought home Pete Alonso and Samuel Basallo. However, rain washed out the contest in the third inning, leaving Zach Eflin to throw 32 pitches over 2+ innings without a clear status on his readiness for the season opener. Craig Albernaz noted that Eflin is progressing faster than anticipated, but his availability remains uncertain.

Amidst the preparations, a curious situation has emerged surrounding Coby Mayo, the likely starting third baseman for the Orioles. After a stellar performance on March 10, where he recorded four hits including a home run, Mayo has been absent from the lineup for four games. While there are no reported injury issues, his absence raises questions. If he appears in tonight’s game, those concerns may quickly dissipate.

Meanwhile, the intensity of the World Baseball Classic continues to thrill fans. Team USA eliminated Canada on Friday, bringing O’Neill back to Orioles camp. That same evening, the Dominican Republic knocked out Korea, setting the stage for a highly anticipated semifinal clash between the USA and DR.

In a thrilling matchup, Team USA emerged victorious. After Junior Caminero put the Dominican Republic ahead with an early home run, Gunnar Henderson answered back with a homer of his own in the fourth inning, tying the game. Roman Anthony also contributed with a long ball, leading Team USA to a 2-1 advantage that they maintained until the final out. The Dominican Republic made a valiant effort, bringing the tying run to third base in the bottom of the ninth, but Mason Miller struck out Geraldo Perdomo on a controversial pitch that was clearly below the strike zone, sealing the DR’s fate.

With an impressive OPS of 1.358 and two home runs—tied for the team lead despite playing fewer games—Henderson has made a strong case for a starting role in the final. On Saturday, Venezuela upset defending champion Japan, while underdog Italy advanced to their first semifinal in WBC history by defeating Puerto Rico. Tonight, Italy and Venezuela will compete for the chance to face Team USA in the championship game on Tuesday.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.