Q&A: No. 3 prospect Norby dishes on tattoos, secret talent and more

This story was excerpted from Christina De Nicola's Marlins Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

Marlins No. 3 prospect Connor Norby brought an edge to the diamond after making his club debut on Aug. 19. The 24-year-old, who landed with Miami in the Trevor Rogers trade, had a .760 OPS in 36 games with the Marlins.

What better way for fans to get to know newcomers on and off the field than through a Q&A? In this installment, we catch up with the Minnesota-born infielder.

MLB.com: How often did you play hockey growing up?
Norby: I wanted to play hockey so bad. I couldn't stop. I never took hockey seriously. I never took lessons. I just kind of skated, like, pond hockey, boot hockey. I was always basketball in the winter, and then I was baseball in the spring, summer, football in the fall. And then I quit football because I wanted to play more baseball.

I would always joke with my friends growing up that played hockey. I was like, "See you at practice tomorrow. What time's practice?" And they're like, "6 a.m." "Oh, never mind. Not going to be there." But I followed it, growing up, obviously. [Minnesota is] a hockey state. And then I think for sure, the last two years, I don't think I've missed a game. I'll start any free trial to watch my team [the Minnesota Wild] play.

MLB.com: Do you have a secret talent?
Norby: I have really good handwriting. Is that a talent? I think I get it from my mom. Hers isn't necessarily super nice, but it looks good. She does these weird loops with her K's and stuff like that. I've always taken pride in my handwriting. I don't know why.

MLB.com: Is that a journal of sorts?
Norby: That's when I read the Bible every day. I just jot a little something down every day.

MLB.com: Do you have a life or baseball motto?
Norby: [Points to a tattoo on his wrist] "Don't think." I think would be a good one. That's [Dodgers righty] Jack Flaherty's. He's had that forever. I like what it stands for, trying to just trust the work that you put in, and when you get out there, try to be as clear-headed as possible and just play your game. I like that one.

And I think something that [retired NFL receiver Julian] Edelman said: "You can either prove them right or you can prove them wrong." And I've lived by that since high school, just because he wasn't the biggest guy, but he's got three Super Bowl rings, and he was important. He was never the main guy, but without him, [the New England Patriots] don't win.

I heard [Marlins manager Skip Schumaker] say it one time. Everybody's always got an opinion, and they view you some way, and you either prove them right, prove them wrong, however they view you. You want to have all your supporters. "I can do this. I am good." But then all the people that maybe gave up on you are like, "Oh, he's not that good. This guy's better." Like, "No, the work I put in and everything like that, I am that good."

MLB.com: How many tattoos do you have?
Norby: Six.

MLB.com: When did you get your first one, and which is your favorite?
Norby: I got [my first one] during COVID. My mom was not happy, but she also knew, because I'd spoken about getting a tattoo for a long time. But I was still on her budget as a college student. So when she sees $200 taken out of the ATM. ... My favorite one is my big one that I got, it's just the stairway to heaven [on my left arm]. I have little things like this one [points at left biceps].

And then this one [points at right biceps] I got for my childhood friend. He ended up committing suicide, unfortunately, and I just got the date in Roman numerals. His parents still reach out. I've seen them a couple times, and they come down once every year to see me. He always wanted to play professional baseball, so it’s like having him live the dream through me. I thought that was something I could do for him.

A couple years ago is when I really started reading the Bible religiously and believing in that stuff, believing in God and His plan and trusting Him. I don't know what else I'm going to do [tattoo-wise]. I don't know if I'll do anything else, but most of the stuff that I have is just the mental reminders or just things I believe in.