The Orioles 2nd round pick in the 2021 draft, Norby comes in as the #11 prospect after a good offensive season in AAA, but an up and down season defensively.
Connor Norby
Pos: 2B
Bats: R
Throws: R
Age (as of Jun 30th) : 23
2023 Level: AAA
Tools (current/future value)
Hit: 45/50
Game Power: 50/55
Raw Power: 55/55
Run: 50/50
Defense: 40/45
Most Likely Future Role: Everyday Left fielder or Second baseman
Ceiling: 1st Division Left fielder or 2nd Division Second baseman
What we know: Norby has solidified himself as a bat first prospect with a solid hit tool with above average power. Only Heston Kjerstad’s 34.7% line drive rate was higher than Norby’s 27.5% in AAA. The 23-year old drives the ball to all fields and although his 14.7% HR/FB% was the lowest of his career, he collected a career high 40 doubles to go along with his 21 homers. Playing in AAA all season, Norby set an affiliate record with a 164 hits.
He seems to be slow starter who heats up with the weather. After slashing just .265/.311/.347/.658 with home runs in 106 April PAs, he slashed .298/.369/.515/.884 from May to the end of the season. He showed he was completely major league ready by September when he slashed .313/.414/.590/1.005 with 5 homers, 14 BBs, and 15Ks in 99 PAs.
Norby will chase sliders away on occasion, and while he doesn’t have elite bat speed, he makes adjustments during games and at bats. His bat is major league ready. He does have some miss in his swing, but not at an extreme rate (21.6 K%). He’ll draw some walks, but it won’t be a huge part of his offensive game.
Defensively, he did improve some at second base, but he’s still a below average defender on the dirt. He did turn the double play better and he’s got average second base arm strength but his accuracy is not always there especially when he has to throw hard on a play. He gets caught in short hops too often he seems to occasionally lose focus on making simple catches or pop ups.. He committed 16 errors this year in just 105 games at second base.
By September, the Orioles were splitting his time between left field and second base, and while he looks inexperienced in the outfield with some awkward routes and catches, he was a gamer out there and made several diving catches. He did make this nice play https://www.mlb.com/video/connor-norby-s-diving-catch?q=norby&cp=CMS_FIRST&qt=FREETEXT&p=0 .
He’s got the speed to play out there and with more experience, he could turn into an average defensive outfielder.
What we don’t know: Norby’s bat is major league ready, but where does he play defensively? The Orioles are stacked at second base with much better defenders, so if he stays in the organization, his best chance at getting everyday PAs is in left field, but even there he’s got to beat out Austin Hays and Colton Cowser currently.
What we think: While Norby is major league ready offensively, his path to every day PAs with the Orioles looks blocked at his current positions. He’s a prime candidate to be traded this offseason and without a series of trades of players ahead of him, he’ll be back in AAA. He’s put up a .295/.362/.498/.860 slash line in 675 AAA PAs now. There’s nothing left for his bat to prove.