Gunnar Henderson Surprises Youth Baseball Player With Custom Under Armour Cleats

Orioles infielder Gunnar Henderson helped create a special moment ahead of Baltimore’s June 27 game, surprising local youth baseball player Declan with a custom pair of Under Armour Yard Icon cleats.

The pair was made to match the cleats Henderson wears on field, but the story behind them goes well beyond the colorway.

Last fall, Under Armour SVP of Design, Innovation & Development Kyle Blakely was attending a youth baseball tournament when he noticed Declan playing in a modified pair of Under Armour cleats. One shoe had been fitted with a makeshift platform to account for a rare leg length discrepancy, allowing him to continue playing the sport he loves.

After the game, Blakely connected with Declan’s family and learned that his cleats had to be sent out of state months in advance and cost hundreds of dollars per pair just to make them playable.

From there, Under Armour’s innovation team began working on a better solution. Blakely partnered with Mark Auger, UA Director of Footwear Development & Engineering, and the team at Under Armour’s YMUS Development Center to create a custom cleat built specifically for Declan. The process included fittings, prototypes, and wear-testing to make sure the final pair could support him on the field.

During the project, the UA team also learned that Declan’s favorite sport was baseball and his favorite player was Henderson, an Under Armour athlete. That connection helped bring the moment full circle, with Henderson presenting Declan with his own specialized UA Yard Icon cleats during the pregame ceremony.

For Under Armour, the moment highlights the role innovation can play beyond elite competition, showing how athlete-driven design can help young players continue chasing the game on their own terms.

Make sure to checkout Under Armour's video here, alongside the detailed looks credits to Under Armour.