Connor Norby -- Prospect Evaluation

Connor Norby, Baltimore's sixth-ranked prospect, recorded a double in spring training against Pittsburgh on March 3, 2024, after being held out early due to left side soreness. Norby expressed frustration with the cautious approach, stating he had been "itching" to get game action since training began and wanted to "get in on the party" with other prospects who were performing well.

Norby is an accomplished hitter who has posted strong numbers throughout his minor league career despite ongoing swing adjustments. In 2023 at Triple-A Norfolk, he hit .290 with an .842 OPS, though he has indicated this was not his best performance. His late 2022 performance was stronger, with a .298 average at Double-A Bowie and .359 at Norfolk over nine games.

The prospect acknowledged that much of 2023 involved experimentation and grinding through at-bats as he worked with Baltimore's hitting coaches on new techniques. He emphasized that while he never felt comfortable at the plate last season, he maintained solid production and handled the adversity well. Norby continues to work on swing path adjustments in spring training as he aims to elevate his performance in 2024.

Connor Norby, a 21-year-old second baseman at East Carolina University, has emerged as a top prospect after a slow start to his college career. Currently ranked around #84 on MLB Pipeline, he projects as a late second or early third-round draft pick. Over his last two seasons, Norby has demonstrated significant improvement, posting a .415 batting average with 15 home runs and 18 stolen bases across 61 games in 2021, after hitting .403 with 4 home runs in 2020.

Norby's primary asset is his hit tool, graded at 60 by scouts. He combines a compact right-handed swing with excellent plate discipline and quick hands that allow him to adjust to offspeed pitches and drive fastballs the opposite way. His gap-to-gap hitting approach, solid speed, and aggressive baserunning suggest potential for 50+ doubles and triples at the professional level. Defensively, he demonstrates good hands, quick footwork around second base, and high baseball IQ for positioning and double-play turning.

The main concern evaluators have is his power production relative to his frame. Listed between 5'10" and 6'0" depending on the source, Norby's line-drive approach may limit his ability to fully utilize his strength in-game. While his other tools are solid, scouts note that his success at the professional level will ultimately depend on whether his bat plays consistently. His pro comparison is Adam Frazier—both are left-side hitters with similar builds, strong plate discipline, speed, and defensive capability at second base.

Connor Norby, the Baltimore Orioles' No. 11 prospect, established himself as a legitimate power threat in the minor leagues during the 2022 season. The 22-year-old infielder finished with a .279 batting average and .886 OPS while accumulating 29 home runs—the most in the Orioles system—along with 73 RBIs, 92 runs scored, 23 doubles, 4 triples, and 16 stolen bases. His power-speed combination placed him among an elite group of minor leaguers, as he was one of only two players to achieve both 29+ homers and 16+ stolen bases in a single season.

Norby progressed through three minor league levels during the season, advancing from High-A Aberdeen to Double-A Bowie before finishing with nine games in Triple-A Norfolk. This rapid advancement reflects his significant development trajectory. Director of Player Development Matt Blood noted that Norby made minor adjustments to his approach that unlocked additional power potential, stating he demonstrated the ability to drive the ball to the big part of the park.

Prior to his minor league success, Norby was an exceptionally consistent hitter at East Carolina University, batting .412 across 78 games in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season and his draft year in 2021. After hitting only 6 home runs in his first two years at ECU, his power emerged notably in 2021 with 15 college home runs, followed by 3 more in his initial professional stint with Single-A Delmarva after being selected 41st overall in the 2021 MLB Draft.

Connor Norby, acquired by the Miami Marlins from the Baltimore Orioles along with outfielder Kyle Stowers in exchange for pitcher Trevor Rogers, is viewed as a potential long-term cornerstone at third base. In his debut with Miami last season, Norby produced a .760 OPS with 8 doubles and 7 home runs over 36 games, beginning his tenure with a 10-game hitting streak despite learning a new position after previously playing middle infield.

Norby was a second-round pick out of East Carolina University in the 2021 draft and built his reputation as a consistent hitter, posting a .285 career batting average with .861 OPS and 172 extra-base hits over four minor league seasons. MLB Pipeline notes he has demonstrated the ability to make consistent loud contact. Marlins president of baseball operations Peter Bendix highlighted Norby's offensive tools, stating: "He can really hit. He's got power. He's got opposite-field power, which is hard to find. He is a grinder. He's got a fantastic mentality. He is always trying to get better."

Norby has set high personal standards for the upcoming season, emphasizing his desire to prove himself among the league's best players while helping the team win games. He spent the offseason refining his swing mechanics, focusing on flattening his bat path to extend barrel time in the strike zone. Both the Marlins organization and Norby himself expect him to build upon his successful but limited rookie sample as he enters his first full MLB season.

Connor Norby is a baseball prospect evaluated by both the Washington Nationals and Toronto Blue Jays organizations. The scouting report compiles extensive prospect rankings for Norby across 2026, with his ranking ranging from #1 to #30 within each organization's prospect system. This wide range of rankings reflects multiple evaluation periods or different assessment methodologies used by various scouts and analysts tracking his development. The presence of rankings across both the Nationals and Blue Jays indicates Norby may have transitioned between organizations or is being tracked by multiple teams. The report title indicates this is a comprehensive stats and scouting profile, though the specific statistical performance data and detailed scouting analysis are not fully detailed in the provided content summary. Biographical information including his birth date appears to be available in the full report but was not included in this excerpt.