Henderson: New Orioles owner has 'same mindset' as players to win title

Baltimore Orioles shortstop and reigning AL Rookie of the Year Gunnar Henderson is happy to see that new team owner David Rubenstein is motivated to win a championship.

"Obviously, we want the leadership to be wanting the World Series as much as we do, and I feel like he's got the same mindset," Henderson said Tuesday after meeting Rubenstein, according to Jake Rill of MLB.com.

MLB owners unanimously approved the sale of the Orioles on Wednesday to a group led by Rubenstein for $1.725 billion. The vote was the last step in finalizing the transaction between the new ownership group and the Angelos family.

All-Star outfielder Austin Hays echoed a similar excitement as Henderson about the ownership change.

"I think he has the best interests at heart, that's why he purchased the team," Hays added, according to Danielle Allentuck of the Baltimore Banner. "He's Baltimore through and through. Having a man like that be in charge of all of us, I'm looking forward to seeing how he runs this team because he has a really good track record."

Baltimore enters the 2024 campaign as a legit World Series threat after winning the AL East last year with 101 victories. The club added ace Corbin Burnes in the offseason and owns arguably the best farm system in baseball, which includes No. 1 prospect Jackson Holliday, who's expected to make his major-league debut this season.