SARASOTA, Florida—In any other major league organization, Connor Norby would be one of their top prospects. With Jackson Holliday, Samuel Basallo, Colton Cowser, Heston Kjerstad and Coby Mayo, Norby is just the sixth-ranked prospect in the Orioles’ system.
The Orioles obviously think highly of the 23-year-old second baseman/outfielder, who was their second-round choice in the 2021 draft. Norby is in his second camp as a non-roster player.
“I would say there’s a little bit more of a chance you can break out of camp with this team than last year,” Norby said. “Other than that, I really don’t feel any different. I’m still trying to get better every day. The same with everyone else. Trying to get ready for the season.
“Everybody wants to break camp. Everyone wants to play in the big leagues. It’s going to happen when it’s supposed to happen. I don’t need to rush it myself. It will happen when it needs to.”
Norby won’t be playing in Saturday’s Orioles’ Grapefruit League opener against the Boston Red Sox. He has a side injury, manager Brandon Hyde said, and he’ll be out for a few days.
With all those big-name prospects, Norby isn’t afraid he’ll be overlooked.
“You might see that from the media and stuff,” Norby said. “Me personally, no. I know how good I am. I know that I’m ready for the big leagues. I know I’m ready to make an impact in the big leagues. It’s just a matter of time for when that happens.
“It’s not up to me. That’s God and his timing. That’s all him, but no I think from an outside perspective, you could say that. When I show up to work every day with those guys, I think they know how good I am. I know how good they are. I know how good I am. I know I’m ready, and I hope it’s soon. It’s not for me to tell when it’s supposed to happen.”
His statistics last year were impressive. Norby hit .290 with an .842 OPS with 21 home runs, 92 RBIs in 138 games at Triple-A Norfolk. The year before, Norby began the season at High-A Aberdeen, was moved up to Double-A Bowie and concluded the year with nine games at Norfolk.
“I feel like I can always do more,” Norby said. “I’m never really content with how a year ends. Even in Bowie, there was still some stuff I could have done. I think that’s what separates guys. I think that’s what makes guys really good and that’s what keeps guys in ‘The Show’ for so long I think is that simple mentality.
“I would just say last year was kind of a grind. I dealt with a couple of different things going on through the year physically, and then never really felt great in the box really until the last month, six weeks I felt more and more like myself every week. I was happy with how I battled and competed and just grinded through. I thought I put up some pretty good numbers for someone who never felt they were on their ‘A’ game at that point throughout the year.”
Norby got most of his starts at second base but started 26 times in left and field and four in right, playing more in the outfield than in 2022.
“I would say the first year I tried I wouldn’t say I felt comfortable,” Norby said. “Last year, I was playing twice a week at least. I would say I got more comfortable with it, for sure. To be honest, it’s really easy to play the outfield when you have Colton Cowser in center or Joey Ortiz in front of you or Jordan Westburg or Gunnar [Henderson]. It’s easy when you have really good players, it makes your job easier. I’m pretty comfortable with it. I still have to get better at it, just like everything else. I like doing it.”