JUPITER, Fla. – Pitcher Bud Norris went from a career-best season in 2014 with Baltimore to a career-worst season in 2015 with the Orioles and San Diego Padres.
So after signing a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Braves in November, the right-hander came to camp with something to prove. So far he’s doing it, pitching three good innings Thursday against the Marlins to give him a 1.80 ERA with one run and four hits allowed in five innings over two Grapefruit League starts.
“I expect to have a good year,” said Norris, a seven-year veteran who turned 31 on March 2. “I expect to do good things. I want to pick up from where I was in ’14 and forget ’15. I know I can pitch. When I take care of myself and execute my pitches, anything can happen. Just trying to build off of that.”
After battling bronchitis and going 3-11 with a 6.72 ERA in 38 games and only 11 starts last season, Norris knew plenty of people had written him off. But this is a guy who just two years ago was 15-8 with a 3.65 ERA in 28 starts for the Orioles, and Norris knew there was plenty left in his arm once he got healthy.
If you said he came to spring training with a chip on his shoulder, he wouldn’t disagree.
“I learned a lot. That’s all I can say,” he said. “And I’m going to be ready opening day. I know how much I care about this game still and what I want to continue to do, and continue to play for a long time at a high level. So yeah, a little chip on the shoulder, but I just want to help my teammates out, be the best teammate I can be and try to win ballgames every fifth day.”
After retiring all six batters in his March 5 spring debut against the Pirates, Norris set down the first five batters he faced Thursday. That made it 11 consecutive batters retired before the Marlins’ Jeff Mathis hit a sharp grounder down the left-field line past third baseman Adonis Garcia with two outs in the second inning.
Norris struck out Justin Maxwell to end the inning, then gave up a run on three singles in the third after Don Kelly led off with a bunt to the left side of the infield to beat the defensive shift the Braves were using.
The Braves plan to use a lot more defensive shifts this season, a reflection of their increased use of statistical data in such areas.
Norris had one walk and three strikeouts against the Marlins, after recording no walks or strikeouts in his debut.
“Very nice,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “He did a nice job commanding both sides of the plate, threw some nice breaking balls. I was really impressed.
