Gunnar Henderson opened the 2025 season on the injured list after suffering a right intercostal strain during a Grapefruit League game on Feb. 27, and the early setback clearly affected his rhythm at the plate.
Although he returned in the first week of April, his production lagged through the month as he posted a .228/.268/.413 slash line before gradually regaining form. The 24-year-old eventually found his stride during the summer, hitting well above .300 across June and July, but another late-season dip pulled his overall on-base plus slugging (OPS) down to .787, a notable drop from the .893 mark he produced the year before.
Despite the uneven offensive profile, Henderson delivered growth on the basepaths, reaching a career-high 30 stolen bases in 35 attempts.
That efficiency reinforces his multi-category value in fantasy baseball points leagues, particularly because stolen bases in this format are most valuable when paired with strong on-base skills and everyday lineup presence. His speed remains an asset that can shift weekly matchups even when the power output fluctuates.
Gunnar Henderson 2026 Fantasy Baseball Projections: Strengths and Weaknesses
Additional context emerged earlier this year when, as reported by Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com, Henderson revealed he had been playing through a left shoulder impingement for roughly three-quarters of the season, an injury that had not previously been disclosed.
Henderson acknowledged that the left shoulder discomfort limited his ability to maintain his usual swing plane and leverage the baseball consistently, which helps explain the year-over-year statistical drop. His weighted runs created plus (wRC+) declined from 154 to 120, while his home run total fell from 37 to 17. Those numbers illustrate how significantly the lingering shoulder issue impacted his overall production.
From a strengths perspective, Henderson combines athleticism, speed efficiency, and the ability to handle premium velocity when healthy. He also benefits from positional stability and youth, entering 2026 at just 24 years old with several developmental years still ahead. His weaknesses center on streakiness and the risk that physical setbacks can disrupt mechanical consistency, which in points formats can lead to extended stretches of reduced scoring.
Looking ahead to 2026, Henderson profiles as a strong rebound candidate if his left shoulder remains fully recovered.
A projection in the range of 25 to 30 home runs, 25 to 30 steals, and improved on-base production is realistic, particularly if he maintains the green light under new manager Craig Albernaz. His draft cost may not reflect a major discount given his pedigree, but the combination of speed, power potential, and age-based upside keeps him firmly in the upper tier of shortstops.
As far as the shortstop hierarchy for fantasy baseball points leagues, I rank him at Tier 2 under Bobby Witt Jr. and Elly De La Cruz, and higher than Francisco Lindor, Trea Turner, and Zach Neto.
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