Marlins lose third baseman Connor Norby, now without two of better bats heading into season
Already bereft of much offensive punch, the Marlins will begin the season without their top run producer and also without the most polished position player who was acquired in a slew of trades last summer.
Having already lost home run leader Jesus Sanchez to an oblique strain earlier this spring, the Marlins said Tuesday that Connor Norby will miss about a month without a grade one oblique strain.
Norby hit .247 (.315 on base) with seven homers and 17 RBI in 36 games and 162 plate appearances after being acquired, with outfielder Kyle Stowers, from Baltimore for pitcher Trevor Rogers.
Manager Clayton McCullough, speaking before the Marlins’ 4-2 win against the New York Yankees in an exhibition game at loanDepot Park on Tuesday, said Norby is “going to see the doctor and we’ll have a bit more of an update most likely [Wednesday] on what that time frame looks like. He won’t be with us when we open up. Best guess right now, those type of things, you’re looking at four weeks.”
Norby said postgame he is “frustrated” by the injury but said that he anticipates he will be back “pretty quickly.”
“I was already in the gym. I’m already pushing as far as I can go because I don’t like missing games,” Norby said. “I feel like I let people down when I’m hurt, so I don’t ever try to miss games. It’s how I’m wired, but today was good work. I was able to do more than I thought I would be able to at this time, and I’m progressing well up to this point. It sucks, but I’ll be back soon.”
How tough is Norby’s loss with all the injuries the Marlins are already dealing with?
“You feel for Connor,” McCullough said. “He was in a really good spot with Opening Day right here. Unfortunate for him to go down when he did. But hey, you know what? Guys will step up and get a chance in his absence. We hope he gets back as quickly as he can. He’ll do everything in his power to take care of himself and be ready when his body allows it.”
In Norby’s absence, Eric Wagaman, Jonah Bride and prospect Graham Pauley will likely handle third base, with Javier Sonoja also getting some time there potentially.
Matt Mervis, the former highly regarded Cubs prospect, and Wagaman would play first base when Bride plays third.
Pauley, who had a strong spring, was slated to begin the season in the minors but is now expected to be on the big-league roster to open the season. He was in Tuesday’s starting lineup, at third base, against the Yankees.
As for Sanchez, he is expected to be sidelined at least two more weeks. His 18 homers and 64 RBI last season were the most among current Marlins players.
The Athletic’s Jim Bowden, the former MLB general manager, ranks Miami’s lineup second worst in baseball, ahead of only the White Sox, adding:
“The Marlins have the worst lineup in the National League. The best part of their offense is the left side of the infield: shortstop Xavier Edwards, who hit .328 with 31 steals last year, and third baseman Connor Norby, who’s learning a new position and is ready to contribute at the plate, though he just picked up an oblique injury. This lineup has athleticism and power but not enough hit tool, overall, to be competitive.”
Besides Sanchez and Norby, six Marlins pitchers are expected to begin the season on the injured list -- starting pitchers Edward Cabrera (blister; expected to miss at least two starts); Ryan Weathers (out at least a month with a forearm strain), Braxton Garrett (out for the year) and Eury Perez (expected back around the All Star break after Tommy John surgery) plus relievers Declan Cronin and Andrew Nardi, who has been dealing with a back problem for weeks.
The Marlins open the 2025 season at home against Pittsburgh at 4:05 p.m. Thursday, on FanDuel Sports Network Florida.
Notables from exhibition win over Yankees
▪ Right-handed pitcher Max Meyer the Yankees to two run (one earned) over five innings. He struck out three while scattering five hits and not issuing a walk.
▪ Pauley and Mervis each hit a home run.
▪ McCullough postgame announced the Marlins’ rotation order to start the season as Sandy Alcantara, Connor Gillispie, Valente Bellozo, Meyer and Cal Quantrill.
This story was originally published March 25, 2025 at 10:37 AM.
