Connor Norby admits 2025 was the most frustrating year of his career. Now healthy, the Marlins infielder has a clear chance to prove himself in 2026.
Connor Norby doesn’t need a hype campaign heading into 2026. He needs a response season.
The reporting from Fish On First at Marlins Media Day laid it out plainly: Last year wasn’t just disappointing for Connor Norby -- it was the most frustrating season of his career. Injuries wrecked his rhythm, limited his availability, and quietly pushed him out of the core-piece conversation for the Miami Marlins. That’s the reality. And now comes the part that matters most -- what he does with it.
On paper, Norby’s 2025 numbers don’t jump off the page. A .689 OPS, eight homers, and a 90 wRC+ over 88 games isn’t what you build around. But context matters. An oblique strain delayed his debut. Hamate surgery robbed him of strength. A late quad strain shut him down again just as he found his footing. When he finally stayed on the field, the player the Marlins thought they were getting started to show up. Over his final 16 games, Norby posted an .844 OPS with 18 RBI, looking more decisive at the plate and more confident defensively.
That late surge is the entire crux of his 2026 case. If that version of Norby is real -- not a hot streak, but a baseline -- then Miami suddenly has a legitimate everyday bat fighting for relevance on a roster that desperately needs internal growth.
But opportunity in this organization is never guaranteed. Norby is currently locked into a positional tug-of-war at third base with Graham Pauley, who was simply better defensively last season. Norby admits third base is still a work in progress, and the metrics back that up. His natural position is second base, but Xavier Edwards remains firmly entrenched there. Versatility might keep Norby in the lineup, but performance will decide whether he stays there.
That’s what makes this season pivotal. Norby isn’t a prospect anymore. He’s 25. He’s healthy. He’s working daily with new infield coach Blake Butler. The excuses are gone, replaced by clarity. If he hits, he plays. If he doesn’t, he becomes replaceable -- another former Baltimore Orioles prospect who couldn’t quite stick.
Norby saying this is the most important year of his career isn’t dramatic. It’s accurate. The Marlins don’t need him to hit 30 home runs. They need him to seize an opening, stabilize a position, and contribute to a team trying to claw its way back into relevance in the National League East.
The door is open. This time, Norby has to walk through it.
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