'Opening Day' jitters get the best of Norby in return to Marlins' lineup

MIAMI -- The Marlins added another key bat to their lineup for the second time this week, reinstating third baseman Connor Norby from the 10-day injured list on Thursday, two days after outfielder Jesús Sánchez. In a corresponding roster move, Miami optioned infielder Graham Pauley to Triple-A Jacksonville.

Norby, who started at the hot corner and batted second, got multiple RBI opportunities from the get-go, but he went 1-for-5 with two strikeouts and seven left on base as the Marlins lost, 6-4, to the D-backs at loanDepot park.

In arguably the biggest moment of the game, Norby stepped to the plate with Miami down by two with the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh inning. Facing right-hander Justin Martinez, Norby stared at a 101.7 mph sinker on the outside corner for strike 3.

“I hope he gets a lot of opportunities, especially where he'll probably be hitting [in the lineup],” manager Clayton McCullough said. “First day coming back, the first at-bat, it was a little antsy. I think he was really aggressive, and to be expected, right? Really for him, kind of like Opening Day this season. Last couple of at-bats, he started to settle, kind of slow things down a little bit and let the action come to him, which I think that's just very normal for anyone that missed the start and now is just getting back into it.”

Projected to be the club’s Opening Day third baseman, Norby instead sustained a Grade 1 left oblique strain on a triple on March 22 -- the second-to-last day of Grapefruit League action – to delay his season debut until now.

“I felt good for the last week-plus, where I felt like I could play, but that's not my decision,” Norby said before the game. “I've moved quickly through rehab, and I finished a week ahead of where they thought I'd be, really anyone thought I'd be. I really busted my tail to get back as quick as I can. So did Sánchy, so did everyone else that's been there, trying to get back as well.

“But there wasn't really anything specific. It was just listening to my body, and I was in here during games, doing everything I could, multiple times a day, trying to, like I said, get back out there and help the team.”

The 24-year-old Norby went 4-for-8 with two runs, one homer, one RBI, two walks and no strikeouts in three rehab games for the Jumbo Shrimp before rejoining the big league club on Wednesday night.

After being acquired from the Orioles in the Trevor Rogers trade last July, Norby posted a .760 OPS and went deep seven times in 36 games for Miami to close out the 2024 season. Both Norby and Miami expected big things in his first full MLB campaign.

“[Xavier Edwards] is going to get on pretty much every time,” Norby had said. “I've got some protection behind me, so just not doing anything crazy. Just make good contact, swing at good pitches, do what I've been doing, take what I've been doing during rehab and at the end of Spring Training. First game, you can't try to do too much.”

While Norby will be the club’s everyday third baseman, Miami does plan to ease him back into action. When he needs a breather, Eric Wagaman and Javier Sanoja are options at the hot corner.

“I think we'll look at this first stretch as he comes back, with some of the game times and whatnot, to ease him back in a little bit and let him build up some tolerance and some stamina,” McCullough said. “And then once we feel good that he's got a few games under his belt, we'll just at that point [look] to cut him loose.”

The 24-year-old Pauley, meanwhile, will get regular playing time at Triple-A, where he was scheduled to begin the season until Norby’s injury. In fact, he had been optioned to the Jumbo Shrimp on March 16 during Spring Training.

Pauley, who recently graduated from prospect status, hit .191/.235/.277 with four doubles, four RBIs, three walks and 14 strikeouts in 14 games. The left-handed hitter served as the club's primary third baseman with a right-handed starter on the mound.

Prior to his first stint with the Marlins, Pauley had just 13 MLB games on his resume in 2024 with the Padres.

“He did a great job,” McCullough said. “I think defensively, he really stood out, and offensively, the last couple of days, he was working with [hitting coach] Pedro [Guerrero] and [assistant hitting coach] Derek [Shomon] on his moves some, condensing those a little bit, just to give him a better chance to recognize and handle velocity.

“We saw his last at-bat, getting to a 100 mph sinker and putting a good swing on it. With Graham, it was nice to get an extended run here that was different from the previous time. He felt he settled in, and then it's just going to be when he does -- and he will come back up here -- what are those adjustments you're going to look to make to perform a little differently?”