“It’s looking really good for Birdland.”

You can’t really say it much better than that when it comes to the Orioles, and there aren’t many people in a better position to utter those words than Gunnar Henderson.

“Everybody’s really tying in together,” said the reigning American League Rookie of the Year in an interview on MLB Network Radio. “Everybody’s just really buying into who we are as a team.”

Who they are is a powerhouse in the AL East, just 2 1/2 games behind the Yankees, who have the best record in baseball.

It certainly wasn’t always this way -- just three years ago, Baltimore lost 110 games. But with an infusion of superb young talent like Henderson and Adley Rutschman, as well as proven veteran stars like ace Corbin Burnes, the O’s have a bright future ahead.

“There are a lot of young guys on the team and we just have that extra year of experience,” Henderson said. “We just go into this year with the same kind of attitude, just go out there and never give a game away.”

Henderson is having a tremendous season at the plate, with a .964 OPS and 21 homers -- the only player in MLB with more home runs is Aaron Judge, with 25. While he obviously has some strong competition, including Judge, Henderson has placed himself in the MVP discussion as we near the halfway mark of the season.

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He’s also back to playing shortstop full-time after splitting time between short and third in 2023.

“I’ve always played shortstop my whole life, and then I had a pretty even split at short and third ever since I got into pro ball,” Henderson said. “I did enjoy my time splitting it, but I think I’m enjoying my time more at just shortstop, solely. It is kind of special for me to just be able to play shortstop from here on out.”

Henderson said it’s also special watching from short as Baltimore pitchers stifle opposing batters, particularly as of late. Entering Thursday, O’s starters owned a 1.01 ERA over their previous five games, the best mark in the Majors over that span.

“It just feels like each and every night, somebody’s gonna go out there and throw the ball really well,” Henderson said. “ … It’s been really awesome to watch them go to work, and it’s really fun playing behind them.”

It’s been fun for Orioles fans, too -- all of it. As Henderson said, Birdland is the place to be these days. And given how baseball in Baltimore is young, exciting and focused on the ultimate prize, it looks as though it’s going to stay that way in the years to come.

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