Sunday, March 1, 2009

Tags' feature on Bud Norris

Bud Norris is emerging as the Astros' top pitching prospect.

Norris, 23, has a slider and a fastball with some command issues and is now working on a changeup:
"I was working on it a lot in Arizona, but if I have a three-pitch arsenal out of the pen that’s a great thing. As a starter, you get in a routine and have a feel for your pitches a little bit more, but as a reliever it’s more of an adrenaline rush. The changeup needs more work, but it’s still early.”

McTaggart projects Norris to open the season at Round Rock:
Norris could wind up as an end-of-the-game reliever because of his hard stuff, but the plan is to keep him in the rotation in the minors so he can work more innings and refine his pitches.