Player Profiles: Bud Norris

wpid-724px-bud_norris.jpgHave yourselves some Buds because it is Bud Norris player profile time.  The Baltimore Orioles acquired Bud Norris from the Houston Astros in 2012 before the trade deadline, so far it has been a good trade for the Orioles.  The Orioles did have to give up one of their top local prospects in Josh Hader for Norris and L.J. Hoes.  The Orioles traded for Norris because he still had years left on his contract and the Orioles were in need of some solid starting pitching. Norris while he may not be flashy is almost always solid. 

Norris was selected by the Astros in the sixth round of the 2006 Major League Baseball draft.  Norris made his debut for the Astros in 2009 and spent the first four and a half years of his career with them.  The Astros have had horrible teams during Norris’ tenure and Norris pas pretty much the their “ace” when he was traded.  Norris’ record and era probably would be much better if the Astros were a better team.

Norris has been a bulldog for the Orioles and while he has historically had poor run support in his career Norris still eats up innings.  Norris while his era might not be flashy he usually gives the Orioles a strong six plus innings.  In Norris’ first season as an Oriole he went four and three with a 4.80 era, not great but he has been much better since then.

Norris is a strike thrower, he throws five pitches and can throw them all over for strikes.  Norris has a good velocity which hits the mid 90’s with his fastball which is probably his best pitch.  I would define Norris as a power pitcher who is not afraid to throw the fastball in any count.

On and off the field Norris wears his competitiveness on his sleeves and it translates to the mound.  Norris is not afraid to pitch inside to hitters to back them off the plate and it  has caused him to have some run-ins with opposing batters.  Norris is not intentionally throwing at batters when he does that but he is just being gutsy and trying to get them off the plate.  Norris is well liked by his Orioles teammates and works very hard at his craft.  Norris is a 120% competitor which I love and respect in athletes.  Norris has stayed in games after having line drives hit him so hard that they left giant bruises.

The Orioles rotation is better with Norris in it and I hope he is in the rotation for years to come.  Norris is in the prime of his career and still showing signs of getting better.

Here are Norris’ career stats.

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Brian Hradsky

The owner of MSB, I created this website while in college and it has never died.

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