Connor Norby finally had an opportunity to square off against someone who will be forever linked to him.
Back in July 2024, when Norby was with Baltimore—the team that drafted him in the second round that year—the native of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, was traded to the Miami Marlins for Orioles pitcher Trevor Rogers.
While still with the Marlins a year ago, Norby had a chance to possibly face the talented left-hander for the first time since the trade. But an injury to Norby the night before Rogers was scheduled to start the next day scrapped any such meeting.
Fast forward the clock to August 2026 when Colorado acquired Norby from the Marlins in exchange for relief pitcher Victor Vodnik.
Finally, as destiny would have it, the paths for the two crossed on September 2 when both started for their respective teams as Baltimore and Colorado completed a three-game series at Coors Field.
Rogers might have won the individual battle between the two but, in the end, Colorado won the battle of the game as Brett Sullivan’s two-out, two-run walkoff single capped a three-run 11th inning in the Rockies’ wild 6-5 come-from-behind win in the rubber game of the series.
Norby went hitless in three at bats against Rogers, who gave up just six hits and fanned a career-high 11 while issuing no walks in 6.2 innings. He left the game clinging to a 3-2 lead.
But the Orioles bullpen, just one out away from closing out the contest and a series win for the O’s, surrendered back-to-back doubles to Cole Carrigg and Zac Veen to knot the game and send it to extra innings.
For his part, Norby made a key defensive play in the top of the 11th inning. With one out, he recorded an unassisted out at third base with runners on first and second bases after Baltimore had scored twice in the inning to take a 5-3 advantage.
In the bottom of the 11th, the Rockies third baseman was the placed runner at second base and scored on T.J. Rumfield’s single to bring Colorado within a run. Two outs later, Sullivan tallied his walkoff hit.
The day before his matchup with Rogers, Norby recalled that the two would see each other on the field for the first time after last year’s near miss while the ex-Oriole was still with the Marlins.
“I would have (faced him) but I broke my hand the night before so I missed that one,” the East Carolina product recalled.
“He is really good and you can’t make it more than it is. I’m sure he probably looks at it that way, too. You can’t make the game bigger than what it is. It’s pitcher vs. hitter. My job is to put up a good at bat and that (Rogers) is a good arm.”
Rogers certainly left an impression on the Rockies on Wednesday, striking out six in a row at one point, including Colorado’s top 3 hitters in lineup in the sixth inning. He threw 71 of 94 pitches for strikes in his outing.
Norby fondly recalls his short stint with Baltimore—he played in just nine games in 2024 before being traded to the Marlins.
“This is now my third time playing them so I have seen them a couple of times,” he said. “It’s always good to see all those guys I came up with. There were a lot of them. We still stay in touch. You’re close with them so it’s always good to see them.”
Norby admits there might be a little added incentive when he matches up against the team that drafted him 41st overall in 2021.
“Does it mean a little more? Do I want to beat them a little bit more? Maybe,” he said.
The third-year MLB player has been pleased with his first month at 20th and Blake.
“I feel like it’s probably been my best month, collectively,” he said.
“I’m still young,” he added. “I’m still trying to make a name for myself and solidify myself. I feel like I am doing a lot of good things and I am giving them reasons to play me. So that’s always good.”
In his first 21 game with Colorado, Norby is slashing .223/.326/.681. He has scored 10 runs, has a pair of homers, 10 RBI and nine walks drawn.
WASHINGTON, DC – AUGUST 26: Connor Norby #35 of the Colorado Rockies wears a purple home run jacket while celebrating with teammates in the dugout after hitting a grand slam home run against the Washington Nationals during the seventh inning at Nationals Park on August 26, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) Getty Images
Norby has reached base in 19 of those 21 games while hitting safely in 15 contests. He has compiled 12-game hitting and 15-game on-base streaks—both career highs—since joining the Rockies.
“I am keeping my strengths my strengths, and when I get into the game, taking those strengths—and what I do best—and playing my game,” he said. “I try not to play someone else’s game or be someone else.
After being acquired on August 3, Norby has already seen extensive action for the Rockies in his first month with the club. Do you see Norby as being a long-term answer in the infield for Colorado for 2027?
Let us know in the comments.
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