Baltimore Orioles infielder Gunnar Henderson won the 2023 AL Rookie of the Year award after a brilliant performance in the heart of a productive O’s lineup.
He had a .814 OPS, 28 homers, 82 RBI, and 100 runs scored.
He was a reason for the Orioles to be proud of their farm system and player development staff.
However, his triumph brings more joy to the city and the franchise in the form of tangible compensation by the league.
“Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson won the American League Rookie of the Year Award. He’s the first winner for the Orioles since Gregg Olson in 1989. Because Henderson won, the Orioles will get an extra first-round draft pick through the Prospect Promotion Incentive,” MLB insider Jeff Passan tweeted.
Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson won the American League Rookie of the Year Award. He's the first winner for the Orioles since Gregg Olson in 1989. Because Henderson won, the Orioles will get an extra first-round draft pick through the Prospect Promotion Incentive.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) November 13, 2023
To explain what the Prospect Promotion Incentive, let’s go back to the lockout and the 2022-26 Collective Bargaining Agreement.
In the 2021-22 offseason, MLB owners and the MLBPA had to negotiate the new CBA.
However, they couldn’t agree on major points and the owners implemented a lockout that lasted for months.
In the end, both sides were able to agree on most points and a new CBA was negotiated.
As part of the negotiations, the PA worried about teams’ service time manipulation, which caused them to avoid calling up top prospects that were clearly ready to try and earn an extra year of service time.
To combat this, the sides agreed to the Prospect Promotion Incentive.
Players who win Rookie of the Year earn their team an amateur draft pick “after the first round.”
This is what Passan is talking about.
Now the Orioles, who already have a top system, will get an extra first-round pick.
The rich just got richer.
NEXT: Orioles Reveal Major Award Win For A Key Figure
