ARLINGTON, TX — Former Lubbock Christian University baseball player and current Norfolk Tides Manager Buck Britton will pitch to Oriole shortstop Gunnar Henderson in Monday night's MLB Home Run Derby at Globe Life Field in Arlington.
Britton managed the Orioles star back in 2019 when Henderson was in Double-A Ball in 2021 and 2022. The former second-round draft pick also spent time with Britton at the alternate training site in Bowie during the shortened 2020 season amid the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Britton has a long-standing relationship with Henderson, having managed the 2019 second-round Draft pick at Double-A Bowie in 2021 and Triple-A Norfolk in 2022. They also spent time together at the alternate training site in Bowie during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
Former Lubbock Christian Chap Buck Britton
(Credit: lcuchaps.com)
Britton played for the LCU baseball team from 2006-2008 before being drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 35th round of the 2008 MLB Draft. He spent seven seasons in the Orioles organization, including four with the Norfolk Tides, before playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Minnesota Twins organizations. He retired in 2016 after a professional career totaling 828 Minor League games, with a .270 batting average, 59 home runs, and 407 RBI. In 2013, Britton recorded a 21-game hitting streak with the Tides, tied for the third-longest hitting streak in franchise history. He was inducted into the LCU Athletics Hall of Honor in 2017.
Gunnar Henderson joins a competitive field of power hitters, including Pete Alonso (New York Mets), Alec Bohm (Philadelphia Phillies), Adolis Garcia (Texas Rangers), Bobby Witt Jr. (Kansas City Royals), Marcell Ozuna (Atlanta Braves), Jose Ramirez (Cleveland Guardians), and Teoscar Hernandez (Los Angeles Dodgers), all vying for the derby crown.
Henderson has been a standout for Baltimore this season, tallying 27 home runs (3rd in MLB), 61 RBIs (12th in MLB), and a 965 OPS (4th in MLB). He has also been selected to start at shortstop for the American League in Tuesday's All-Star Game.
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