Orioles prospect Connor Norby maintains an attitude of never being satisfied while navigating the minor leagues even though his major league opportunity may come elsewhere.
The 5-foot-9, 180-pound second baseman has showcased his abilities for Triple-A Norfolk this season, even spending some time in the outfield. Now in his third season at the minor league level, Norby has steadily improved as a player, but he still feels there’s room to grow.
“I still feel like I haven’t felt completely like myself yet, especially in the batter’s box which is good and bad in my eyes,” Norby said on Glenn Clark Radio May 31. “It’s good because I feel like there’s still something that I’m missing right now that I haven’t found yet. It’s bad because you want to find it as soon as possible.”
The 22-year-old was selected by the Orioles in the second round (No. 41 overall) of the 2021 MLB Draft out of East Carolina University. Norby split his first full professional season in 2022 between High-A Aberdeen, Double-A Bowie and Norfolk. He finished the 2022 season hitting .279/.360/.526 with 29 home runs and 79 RBIs.
Norby has continued his stellar play for the Tides, ranking third in the International League with 69 hits and second in runs with 49. He is hitting .294/.345/.443 with six home runs, but he believes there is more in the tank.
“I think I’ve made good strides over the last probably two weeks in getting to where I want to get to,” Norby said. “It’s a feeling that you get when you’re in the box or on the mound and it’s the you-feel-invincible type thing. You feel like you could hit anything, any pitch, anywhere. I had that last year at the end of Bowie and when I got up here last year.”
Norby’s attitude has remained consistent, even throughout his childhood. With every step, he believes there’s something that can be learned.
“I can promise every person out there that no one’s expectations are higher than the ones I have set for myself and that comes from my dad and him instilling that in me,” Norby said. “… I learned at a really young age that you can’t ever be satisfied and there’s always things you can learn from, even from a 4-for-4 night or an 0-for-4 night.”
Still, Norby is enjoying being part of the Tides’ everyday lineup, as they are the top team in the International League at 40-17 entering play on June 6. He is focused on winning and hopes the Tides make the Triple-A championship game in Las Vegas in September.
With the Orioles finding success at the big league level this season, there’s also buzz about potential trades to get them over the hump. As the Aug. 1 trade deadline comes closer, the potential for prospects to be moved becomes more and more real.
“I think about it all the time. I try not to worry about it because I think it’s all on God’s hands and whatever is going to happen is going to happen,” Norby said. “But it’s a very realistic possibility. They did it in Houston and we all knew it would come down to this.”
Norby says it may be for the better when a player is traded because the competition is so great within the Orioles organization. That has created few opportunities at the major league level for players with the Tides so far this year. A new home can create new opportunities for minor leaguers with dreams of playing in the big leagues.
Norby referred to former Orioles infield prospect Darell Hernaiz being dealt to the Oakland Athletics for left-hander Cole Irvin this past offseason.
“Darell Hernaiz has a clear path to the big leagues and it was great for him to get out because you had a ton of infielders,” Norby said. “You had a Gunnar [Henderson], you had a Joey [Ortiz], you had [Jordan] Westburg, you had all these guys and it’s the same thing pretty much at every spot here if you continue to go down from Triple-A to Double-A and High-A.”
Norby understands the possibility exists that he could be involved in a deal.
“You almost kind of hope that you’re in one of them sometimes,” Norby said. “Sometimes you kind of hope. You’re like, ‘Dang, maybe I’ll be one of the few in that package,’ or whatever it might be. But I try not to worry about it. You’ve got to be where you are at that moment.”
For more from Norby, listen to the full interview here:
Photo Credit: Sydney Smith