Derek Norris, Catcher


Date of Birth: 2/14/1989
Birthplace: Goddard, Kansas

Derek Norris, catcher, was first drafted by the Washington Nationals in 2007. After five years in the Nationals' minor league system, they traded him to the Oakland Athletics in December, 2011.

Norris spent most of the 2012 season in the minor leagues, playing in just 60 games with the Athletics that year. In 2013, he batted .246 with 65 hits in 98 games. He finished the 2014 season with 104 hits, 19 doubles, 55 RBIs, and a .270 batting average in 127 games.

Norris was traded to the San Diego Padres on December 18, 2014. He finished the 2015 season with 129 hits, 33 doubles, 62 RBIs, and a .250 batting average in 147 games. As a catcher, he made 79 assists, 970 putouts, and 7 errors in 128 games. He caught players trying to steal 34.4% of the time and he had a .993 fielding percentage.

In 2016, Norris batted .186 with 77 hits, 14 home runs, and 42 RBIs in 125 games. Defensively, as the Padres' catcher in 116 games, he made 58 assists, 875 putouts, and 9 errors. He had a .990 fielding percentage and he caught players trying to steal 20.8% of the time.

Norris returned to the Nationals in a trade on December 2, 2016. He was released on March 15, 2017. He signed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays eleven days later. He was released on June 26th. He played in 63 games in 2017 and he batted .201.

Norris signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers on December 5, 2017. He was released on March 28, 2018. He played with the independent Atlantic League in 2018.

Norris hasn't played professional baseball since 2018.

Career batting statistics for Norris through 2017 include:

  • 610 games played
  • 453 hits
  • 98 doubles
  • 247 RBIs
  • 541 strikeouts to 195 walks
  • .230 batting average

Career fielding statistics for Norris as a catcher through 2017 include:

  • 559 games played
  • 248 assists
  • 4,000 putouts
  • 36 errors
  • .251 caught stealing percentage
  • .992 fielding percentage

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Derek Norris
ESPN - Derek Norris