Is Daniel Norris About to Make His Major league Debut?

Jul 13, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; USA pitcher

throws a pitch in the second inning during the All Star Futures Game at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

21 year old Blue Jays left-hander Daniel Norris has had quite the ascent this season, from High-A Dunedin, to Double-A New Hampshire, to, as of Sunday, Triple-A buffalo. Along the way, he has moved from a secondary prospect to one of the game’s best, ranking 28th on MLB.com’s midseason rankings,  25th on Baseball America’s. And now it appears he may soon complete his climb with a trip to Toronto and the big leagues.

In a radio interview with Ben Ennis of Sportsnet 90 the Fan, Blue Jays GM indicated that the former second round pick will probably be called up when rosters expand on September 1.

““No doubt we could see him,” Anthopoulos said. “That was definitely part of the plan of having him moved up [to Triple-A]. He’s earned it. I mean, he’s pitched incredibly well.”

Earned it would be right. Norris, who debuted in Triple-A Sunday by striking out 10 and surrendering just a pair of singles over six shutout innings in a victory over Durham, has been one of the best pitchers in minor league baseball this year.

He encroached on Gibson with a 1.22 ERA over 13 starts for Dunedin, and while he had some early struggles in Double-A, the Tennessee native settled down to allow just two runs and fan 19 batters over his last three starts (15.2 innings) at the level. With his recent gem for Buffalo, he improved to 10-1 with a 2.25 ERA, 11.2 SO/9, and a 3.0 BB/9 for the season. His ERA is 10th among all affiliated minor league pitchers with at least 100 innings pitched, ranking just behind such top prospects as the Pirates’ Tyler Glasnow and the Brewers’ Jimmy Nelson.

Norris certainly has the potential to offer an upgrade over Drew Hutchinson or J.A. Happ at the back of the Toronto rotation. His numbers  speak for themselves, particularly the peripherals and the improved command; in previous seasons, he had walked over 4.5 batters per nine innings.

Unlike some starters who manage to dominate the minors with a single pitch, but are relegated to the major league bullpen, Norris has the skill-set to succeed at the game’s highest level. His fastball is plus, with low to mid-90’s velocity and natural life, but he also has three other above average options in his change-up, curveball, and slider. The change-up is his top secondary offering, earning a 60 on the 20-80 scouting scale, according to MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo.

A promotion would be a major vote of confidence for Norris, more-so than with other prospects. Drafted just three years ago and out of high school, Norris is not on the 40-man roster and, to avoid the rule five draft, doesn’t have to added until after the 2015 season. Putting him on it now would give Toronto less flexibility to add others and make new additions in the offseason, particularly with prospects Dalton Pompey, Andy Burns and Josh Stilson due to be eligible for the rule five draft this November.

Anthopolus also revealed that fellow pitching prospect Aaron Sanchez, who was called up in July and has been working out of Toronto’s bullpen, could also receive some starts down the stretch.

“Hopefully he continues to have success,” Anthopoulus said “and if he does, we may convert him to the bullpen by the end of the month and see if he could be a factor for us in September,”

Though his stock has taken a slight dip as he struggled with his command in Double and Triple-A this year, Sanchez entered the season as the Blue Jays #1 prospect and the 32nd in the game, per Baseball America. In 7 appearances and 12.1 innings for Toronto this season, he owns a 2.19 ERA with a 1.5 BB/9 and a 7.3 SO/9.