|
Connor Norby
Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50
Norby has always let his bat do the talking, ever since busting out to hit .412 over his final two years at East Carolina, before the Orioles snatched him up with the 41st overall pick of the 2021 Draft. And he’s done nothing but steadily produce in pro ball, putting up a .283/.362/.493 line and 52 homers in two-plus seasons in Baltimore’s system. He spent 2023 banging on the big league door at Triple-A Norfolk, where he spent the entire year, and slashed .290/.359/.483 with 40 doubles, 21 homers and 10 steals. He finished tied for fourth in all the Minors in both hits and two-baggers.
A right-handed hitter with a simple, compact swing, Norby is quick to the ball and makes consistent loud contact. He punishes fastballs and is adept enough at recognizing spin to more than hold his own against breaking stuff, which he slugged .459 against last year (Triple-A average slugging against non-fastballs: .394). Furthermore, subtle changes to his approach have turned what looked like solid extra-base power into at least solid over-the-fence pop. His ability to leave the yard to all fields enabled Norby to lead Baltimore’s farm system in combined homers over the past two seasons.
Norby isn’t a burner, but he isn’t a clogger either, with average speed and the ability to sneak a stolen base when the opportunity presents itself. He’s a capable defender at second base and athletic enough to handle left field as he has increasingly at the higher levels, with an average arm that works fine at both spots. It’s the bat, though, that has Norby looking like he’ll be an impactful big leaguer very soon. - mlbpipeline
No before picture as I did him recently and saved over whatever old one I once had in my master pack.
|