How Orioles' Gunnar Henderson became an early MVP candidate

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BALTIMORE -- Clarke Schmidt made only one mistake Monday, and it wasn't a bad pitch. The New York Yankees starter thought Gunnar Henderson looked awkward fouling off two straight knuckle-curves, so he threw the Baltimore Orioles leadoff hitter a third one. It was sharper than the previous two -- not exactly where he wanted it, but close.

With Schmidt's stuff, particularly crisp on this balmy night, close is usually good enough. Not against Henderson.

Henderson crushed the baseball 112.3 mph, 410 feet over the tall right-field wall at Camden Yards for a leadoff home run. The laser gave the Orioles a lead they wouldn't fumble in their series opener against the…