The Orioles are calling up infield/outfield prospects Connor Norby, reports ESPN's Jeff Passan on X. Baltimore beat members, including MLB.com's Jake Rill on X, previously noted that Norby was on his way to Toronto with the rest of the team. Norby is not yet on the team's 40-man roster but the O's have a spot there after a recent loss. Caleb Ort without leaving the Astros. They will need a move to get Norby on the active roster. Striker Jorge Mateo is under contract, according to Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com, and could possibly go on the injured list.
A nice early present for Norby, who turns 24 on Saturday. His call-up is another step in the march of exciting prospects that have completed the Orioles in recent years. The O's finished last in the American League East in each full season from 2017 to 2021 losing 108 games or more in three of those seasons. In this process, they were able to use high draft picks to gather exciting youngsters such as Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson, Colton Cowser, Jordan Westburg, Kyle Stowers, Jackson Holiday, Heston Kjerstad, DL Hall again Grayson Rodriguezall were taken with first or second round picks.
Norby can be counted among that group as well, the O's took him in the second round of the 2021 draft. He made a brief professional debut months after that draft pick and went three levels in 2022. From High-A to Double-A and Triple-A, he hit 29 home runs in 547 plate appearances. He also drew a walk in 10.1% of those trips to the plate while striking out 20.8% of the time. His combined slash line of .279/.360/.526 led to a 137 wRC+, or 37% above average overall, and he stole 16 bases.
That performance was enough to land him at the back of the top 100 prospect list heading into 2023. Baseball America ranked him #93 while ESPN ranked him #92. His results last year were still strong but not as bad as last season. He spent all of 2023 in Triple-A, getting in 138 games. He still scored 21 runs and walked 9% of his trips to the plate, but the offensive situation was tight in Triple-A last year, thanks in no small part to robo-ump shenanigans. Norby's .290/.359/.483 batting line produced a 109 wRC+, which is above average but not by a huge margin, and his 10 steals were a slight drop from last year.
He didn't get a lot of love going into this year but he has been working well for Norfolk. In 51 contests in 2024, he already has nine runs and seven steals. His 30.7% strikeout rate is very high but he also draws walks at an 11.3% clip. His .286/.374/.510 line translates to a 127 wRC+ on the year so far.
Defensively, Norby emerged as the second baseman but the O's made him spend a lot of time in the outside corners as the field was filled with the presence of Henderson, Westburg, Holliday, Mateo and others. That gives the club a little more flexibility in how they list him, though the outfield mix is heavily populated with Cowser, Stowers, Cedric Mullins, Anthony Santander again Austin Hays all the time to share there while Ryan O'Hearn is the most common in the designated hitter slot as well Ryan Mountcastle in the beginning.
Mateo has been a regular second baseman for the Os lately, so that position could open up if he is indeed going to miss some time with a concussion. Norby could step in there or the O's could also move Westburg to third base, as he has more experience at second base. Ramón Urías taking over the hot corner. That latter situation would leave Norby in a backup role, which wouldn't be ideal treatment for a big man, but the O's also called up guys like Stowers and Kjerstad without getting them significant playing time.
However it plays, it continues to highlight the Orioles' embarrassment of riches in terms of young talent. They have so many exciting youngsters that even getting playing time is a challenge. In the long run, that is something that can be worked on organically. Santander is an upcoming free agent while Mullins, Hays and Mateo are all set to hit the open market after 2025. That will open up more opportunities for the youth later on while the O's may be able to use some of these young players. at the trade deadline to bolster the pitching staff for the postseason.
Meanwhile, Norby will get the call to the big leagues for the first time and start his service time clock. Even if he stays until the end of the year, he won't be able to get service for a full year in 2024, which means the first can reach free agency after 2030. He could reach the Super Two if he stays. majors from now until the end of the 2026 campaign, but he's also likely to return to Norfolk after Mateo is healthy. Holliday and Kjerstad are also playing well in Triple-A at the moment and could force a return to the majors down the line. There are many moving parts that will affect the long-term plans but it is undoubtedly a good day for Norby.
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