Baltimore shortstop Gunnar Henderson was playing with Legos on Sunday night during the Orioles’ American League game against the Texas Rangers. But the LEGOs were on his shoes, not in his hands.
Henderson’s LEGO-adorned cleats were a gift for his 23rd birthday on Saturday.
“When I opened it up, I was blown away by them,” Henderson told the Baltimore Banner before the game. “They’re unreal. They’re pretty awesome. The LEGO people on the shoestrings, I was told they will stay on. When we’re playing out there tonight, if something falls off, I may have to get it.”
The shoes were designed by Marcus Rivero. He produces custom cleats and shoes for professional athletes as Soles By Sir.
Henderson is a LEGO enthusiast who has completed complicated sets such as the Millennium Falcon and Razor Crest from LEGO’s “Star Wars” collection.
“I play well whenever I do it,” . “I don’t know if it’s a direct correlation, but it helps me to wind down so that I can get some sleep and perform better, at least.”
A Morgan Academy standout who was Alabama’s Mr. Baseball in 2019, Henderson performed well enough to win the American League Rookie of the Year Award last season. This season, Henderson and Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals are in the final vote to determine the starting shortstop for the American League in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game on July 16.
Fans can vote online through 11 a.m. CDT Wednesday for the MLB All-Star Game starters.
The cleats of Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson include LEGOs on the shoestrings during an American League game against the Texas Rangers on Sunday, June 30, 2024, at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore.(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.
