Baseball America has Hagerstown CA Derek Norris ranked #2 in their weekly Prospect Hot Sheet.
Why He’s Here: .400/.545/1.160 (10-for-25), 1 2B, 6 HR, 11 RBIs, 8 BB, 5 SO
The Scoop: Coming into the season, Norris was a disciplined hitter, but the Nationals wanted him to be more aggressive with two strikes. Now Norris is unleashing an aggressive assault on the South Atlantic League, where in 81 games he is hitting .317/.417/.596. His recent stretch of six dingers in four games pushed his season total to 20, tops in the league. Norris also leads the league in OPS and ranks second in both on-base and slugging. There is plenty of young catching talent in the game right now, and it’s time to include Norris among the top of the crop.
#1 by Rocket Surgeon - July 10th, 2009 at 14:42
It sure is nice to hear BA talk that way about a Nationals prospect!
I believe it’s about time for a promotion.
#2 by Marcus - July 10th, 2009 at 15:08
I’m trying to load that chat up with Norris ?’s see if we can get any answered…
Also thought Norris’s line was a bit more impressive than Matsuz but atleast they mentioned that it was a debate for number 1.
#3 by expo_ram - July 10th, 2009 at 15:45
Unfortunate that O’s were at #1 and #3, especially when Crowe was at least equal to Matusz in that draft. If you look at Mock and Meyers’ lines in the past week, I’m surprised they got no mention.
#4 by Berndaddy - July 10th, 2009 at 16:38
expo-ram forget Crow how about having Smoak. That’s the kid that makes my red face in wonder…
#5 by Mark - July 10th, 2009 at 17:04
The O’s have a stud catcher in their organization that received crazy accolades and ridiculous levels of praise (Weiters). We have one now, too…. Derek Norris Facts: -Derek Norris once had daylight savings moved up 12 hours because he wanted to sleep in.
#6 by BinM - July 10th, 2009 at 17:45
Not to rain on the parade, ’cause Norris is really rakin’ in lo-A, but he needs to learn how to field the position. 12 errors & 14 PB in 60 games behind the plate isn’t going to get it at a higher level.
#7 by Ronny - July 10th, 2009 at 20:22
Norris hit his 21HR tonight. This kid is a beast.
#8 by RD - July 10th, 2009 at 22:19
The rankings don’t make much sense.
What Norris did is ridiculous. He should be #1 for the week.
The only possible reason for Matusz to be higher is because he did it at AA, as opposed to low A. But on that token, what Chris Tillman did is more impressive because he did it at AAA, as opposed to AA. Tillman’s line was better regardless, and at a higher level.
Norris is a stud though. If he can’t catch, he’ll still hit. We’ll find him a position.
#9 by Ben - July 10th, 2009 at 23:39
Well, nice as this is, he either needs to learn how to field his position, or learn a different one.
#10 by estuartj - July 11th, 2009 at 14:59
Thought for the day, with the tragic number for Bryce Harper dropping quickly, what do you do with the catching talent in the system?
Is Harper’s bat so potent (and his athletic ability making him movable) do you move him out from behind the plate (maybe 1B?) to move him up they system faster (especially if he’s on a big league deal)?
What about Jesus Flores? What about Derek Norris and Adrian Nieto, at what point does organizational depth become a tradeable surplus?
#11 by Andrew Stebbins - July 11th, 2009 at 15:30
Just my opinion, but I wouldn’t consider trading any of them until the Nats have a situation like Texas was faced with. Two possible starters vying for the starting job, with another guy in Max Ramirez down on the farm waiting for the call. So, in other words, not until they make you and are at the upper levels. In fact, Texas hasn’t traded any of their catching surplus.
#12 by RD - July 11th, 2009 at 15:31
I think the defensive positions will work themselves out in time.
I don’t think Flores has enough bat to move off the plate. That’s his only spot.
Norris definitely has the bat to move, if he doesn’t improve his defense.
Time will tell with Nieto, although he’s suppose to have the bat to move off, but probably only to first base.
Harper could pretty much play anywhere he wants. If he moves off, I think 3B or OF is more likely because of his mobility.
If we land Harper, I think everyone remains a C for the time being. At that point, Norris is in Potomac/Harrisburg, Nieto at Hagerstown, and Harper probably in the GCL or Vermont to start. Once someone gets to the point that they’ve reached the bigs and locked down a spot, or haven’t improved behind the plate and have another one right on their heels, then you make a position switch.
#13 by souldrummer - July 12th, 2009 at 12:15
I agree with RD and Andrew. We’re way premature on this. Until Flores shows that he can play a full season healthy with solid production we need to allow development to play itself out. It would have been great this year to have had a second catcher available in the system who could serve as a defensive backup to Flores with an adequate bat.
Norris is far, far away people due to his defense. Can’t emphasize that enough. Ideally, you want catchers to be able to support pitchers defensively as well and he’s not able to do that yet.
The bigger issue is what to do with Luke Montz in my opinion. He’s not hitting at all at Harrisburg, and how to assign Norris, Rooney, and Montz between Hagerstown, Potomac, and Harrisburg will say how the organization views the best way to develop Norris.
What are going to do with Montz? Is it possible he gets released or traded after this year to free up room for the younger kids? It doesn’t seem like he can hit AAA at all.