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BRADENTON, Fla. – Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson provided an injury update this morning after making a quick stop at his locker, his first beat writer scrum since before he strained his right intercostal on Feb. 27.

“I’m feeling good,” he said. “Been swinging, taking ground balls and stuff, so I’m on the right track, progressing.”

The injury occurred when Henderson made a leaping backhand catch of Bo Bichette’s line drive in the first inning. He grounded out in his only at-bat and came out of the game in the top of the second.

The intercostal is a muscle that runs between the ribs.

“It’s getting there,” he said. “It’s a lot better than what it originally felt like.”

The big question, of course, is whether he can get ready for the March 27 opener in Toronto. He’s received only six at-bats.

“That’s my plan,” he said, “so that’s what I’m hoping for.”

And getting into Grapefruit League games?

“Yeah, that’s the plan,” he said.

Henderson was held back in camp last spring due to soreness in his left oblique, but he had no issues with making the Opening Day roster, appeared in 159 games, made the All-Star team and finished fourth in the American League’s Most Valuable Player voting.

“This one’s a little bit unique in the sense of what I had happen last year. This one’s just kind of lingering,” he said. “It’s getting there, so yeah, hoping to make it by Opening Day.

“I’m going out there to try to do whatever I can to make it to Opening Day.”

Nothing about the play suggested that Henderson would sustain an injury. It seemed routine other than the athleticism needed to run down the liner.

“My body was in a weird, awkward position whenever I caught the ball,” he said, “and then landed on it weird and it didn’t feel great.”

Heston Kjerstad is in Bradenton for today’s game against the Pirates. Coby Mayo also made the trip and is playing first base.

Most of the regulars stayed back in Sarasota.

For the Orioles

Dylan Carlson LF
Ramón Laureano CF
Heston Kjerstad DH
Gary Sánchez C
Nick Gordon 2B
Coby Mayo 1B
Vimael Machín 3B
Daz Cameron RF
Luis Vazquez SS

Thaddeus Ward RHP

For the Pirates

Ke’Bryan Hayes 3B
Endy Rodríguez C
Oneil Cruz CF
Andrew McCutchen DH
Jack Suwinski RF
DJ Stewart 1B
Nick Gonzales SS
Adam Frazier 2B
Ji Hwan Bae LF

Carmen Mlodzinski RHP