Derek Norris

Derek Norris, born in 1989, was a professional baseball player who had a career spanning from 2012 to 2017. Known primarily as a catcher, Norris played in 610 games across various Major League Baseball teams, including the Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, and Tampa Bay Rays. He established himself as a versatile position player, showcasing a balanced offensive skill set with a career batting average of .230, 453 hits, 63 home runs, and 247 runs batted in. His ability to contribute on the base paths was evident, as he recorded 26 stolen bases during his career. In 2014, Norris earned an All-Star selection, highlighting his emergence as one of the prominent catchers in the league during his playing years. His time in MLB coincided with the rise of analytics in baseball, which emphasized the importance of both offensive production and defensive capabilities from the catching position. Although his career concluded in June 2017, Norris left a mark in the game with his combination of power and speed, making him a notable figure of his era.