The Marlins will select an infielder Connor Norbyreports Christina De Nicola of MLB.com. The corresponding move is currently unknown. The Marlins are off tonight, so the full swing may not be known until tomorrow.
Norby is out doing optional work for the first time in almost two years. The Marlins acquired him from the Orioles at the 2024 deadline, aside Kyle Stowers of Trevor Rogers trade. Shortly after that trade, Norby was retained at Triple-A Jacksonville, but was recalled on August 19 of that year. Despite being on the injured list, he has since been on the big league roster.
Unfortunately, he was unable to establish himself at the major league level. He played in 88 games last year, missing time with a left oblique strain, hamate fracture and left quad. He slashed .251/.300/.389 with a 90 wRC+ and received poor marks in his third baseman.
He was used a lot earlier this year, with mixed reviews for his glove work. No matter how one looks at the defense, the offensive bar is high in that situation and Norby is not there yet. He has a .205/.313/.325 line and an 82 wRC+ in 233 trips to the plate this year. His 10.3% walk rate is a nice jump from last year’s 5.3%, but his strikeout rate also increased from 26.7% to 30%.
Norby is a former second-round pick and a top 100 prospect, so the Fish had high expectations when they acquired him. He has shown the ability to be a much better hitter than this one. From 2022 to 2024, he slashed .287/.365/.501 in the minors with a 125 wRC+. The Marlins will send him to Jacksonville and try to get him back on track.
For the team, they clearly decided it was time to shake up the starting spot. Christopher Morel was optioned for assignment a few days ago, after hitting .162/.219/.206 in 73 plate appearances. Norby has now been removed from the active roster, although he still holds the 40-man spot.
Liam Hicks he has played first base this year but is currently on the injured list. Stowers has been getting good playing time in the early going this year and could stay there, for a season Heriberto Hernández, Owen Caissie again The Griffin Conine rotate around the outer corners and the selected area of impact.
It is also possible that the accompanying movement contributed to that perception. Davison De Los Santos again Graham Pauley both are good for children and they can remember. Pauley is a solid third baseman and could take over if he comes up, which will come in playing time Leo Jiménez again Javier Sanoja. De Los Santos has experience at third base but was playing first in the minors this year.
Going back to Norby, the timing of this move may be significant for him. He entered this season with his service time clock at one year and 57 days, making him 115 days past the two-year mark. More than 90 days of the season have passed, meaning he has yet to reach that limit. If he struggles or gets injured and misses any time during the remainder of the campaign, his path to freedom will be delayed by one year.
Photo courtesy of Kyle Ross, Imagn Images
