Biography
David Stefan "Bud" Norris (March 2, 1985) is an American professional baseball relief pitcher who is currently a free agent. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros, Baltimore Orioles, San Diego Padres, Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels, and St. Louis Cardinals.
Amateur career
Originally from Novato, California, Norris attended Marin Catholic High School in Kentfield, California, later transferring and graduating from San Marin High School in Novato, California, and later California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California. At Cal Poly, Norris was a roommate as well as a teammate of fellow major league pitcher Casey Fien.
Professional career
Minor leagues
Norris was selected by the Houston Astros in the sixth round (189th overall) of the 2006 Major League Baseball draft. In 2009, Norris received an invitation to the Astros' spring training camp. Baseball America ranked him as the number two prospect in the Astros' system. In August 2009, he was named the Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Year after leading the league with a 2.63 earned run average.
Houston Astros
In July 2009, Norris was called up to pitch for the Astros following an injury to pitcher Roy Oswalt. He made his major league debut on July 29, pitching three innings of relief against the Chicago Cubs. In his first major league start on August 2, 2009, he took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and pitched seven shutout innings against the St. Louis Cardinals to earn his first career victory. In his rookie season overall, Norris went 6–3 with a 4.53 ERA in ten starts. He was shut down near the end of the season to prevent potential injury. Norris had a shaky start in 2010, with a 2–6 record and 5.97 ERA up to the All-Star break. After the All-Star break he was much better, posting a 7–4 record with a 4.18 ERA. He finished the 2010 season at 9–10 with a 4.92 ERA. On June 8, 2011, Norris took a no-hitter into the seventh inning before former Astro Lance Berkman broke it up with his 14th home run of the season, and his fourth of the season against Houston. Norris was still able to earn the win. He finished 2011 with a win–loss record of 6–11, even though he actually pitched well, as evidenced by his 3.77 ERA. Houston's poor offense in 2011 resulted in many low-scoring losses. Norris went 7–13 with a 4.65 ERA in 2012. He began the season well, going 5–1 and 3.12 through May 21, but as Houston's season went rapidly downhill so did Norris'. He proceeded to go 0–12 with a 6.34 ERA during a streak of 18 starts while he battled injuries and inconsistencies. He finally ended the streak of futility on September 26 with a scoreless start on his way to a win at home against the St. Louis Cardinals and wrapped up his season with another scoreless effort and win at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs. He was the last pitcher to bat at Minute Maid Park prior to the Astros' transfer to the American League for the 2013 season. Just before the deadline for clubs and players to exchange numbers for arbitration on January 18, 2013, Norris agreed to $3 million for the 2013 season.
Baltimore Orioles
Norris was traded to the Baltimore Orioles on July 31, 2013 for L. J. Hoes and minor league pitcher Josh Hader. On the day after the trade, the Astros were already in Baltimore playing the Orioles, so Norris switched dugouts and won the game.Norris was ejected on May 12, 2014, when he hit Detroit Tigers outfielder Torii Hunter in the ribs with a pitch at Camden Yards, prompting both the Orioles' and Tigers' benches and bullpens to clear. Norris had also had run-ins earlier in the season with Boston Red Sox catcher David Ross and Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Neil Walker, but the Hunter incident resulted in his first major-league ejection. At the time of his ejection, Norris was tied for second in the American League (AL) with 5 hit batters in 43 innings, an average of 1 hit batter every 8.6 innings. In his prior career spanning 740 innings pitched since 2009, Norris had hit only 27 batters, an average of one every 27.4 innings.On January 26, 2015, Norris and the Orioles agreed to a $8.8 million contract. He would get a $25,000 bonus for 180 innings and $50,000 more for 200 under Monday's agreement. Norris also would earn $50,000 each for making the All-Star Game or winning a Gold Glove. Norris was designated for assignment on July 31, and released on August 8.
San Diego Padres
On August 11, 2015, Norris signed with the San Diego Padres for the remainder of the 2015 season.
Atlanta Braves
On November 25, 2015, Norris signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Atlanta Braves. He began the 2016 season in the Braves rotation, but had been moved to the bullpen by the end of April, as he had compiled a 1–4 record and 8.74 ERA in five starts. By May 20, Norris had made seven relief appearances for the team and recorded a 1.32 ERA. He returned to the rotation on June 4, in a spot start, as Mike Foltynewicz was placed on the disabled list.
Los Angeles Dodgers
On June 30, 2016, Norris was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers (along with minor leaguers Dian Toscano and Alex Grosser and cash considerations) in exchange for minor league pitchers Caleb Dirks and Philip Pfeifer.On July 26, 2016, Norris recorded his 1,000th strikeout, in a 3–2 win against the Tampa Bay Rays. He made nine starts for the Dodgers, four relief appearances, while posting a 3–3 record, and a 6.54 ERA. For the 2016 season — combining Norris’ overall stats from the Braves and Dodgers — he tied (with Clay Buchholz) for the major league lead in grand slams allowed, with three.Norris was designated for assignment by the Dodgers on September 20, 2016 and he was released one week later.
Los Angeles Angels
On January 30, 2017, Norris signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels. After a strong performance in spring training, Norris won a spot in the Angels bullpen as their long reliever. After a rash of injuries to begin the season, including to closer Cam Bedrosian, Norris was entrusted as the Angels acting closer. On July 30, 2017 Norris surrendered a walk-off grand slam to Steve Pearce to cap a seven-run ninth inning that lifted the Toronto Blue Jays to an 11–10 victory over the Angels. This made him the first pitcher to allow two walk-off grand slams in one season since Francisco Rodriguez did in 2009 (six days prior on July 24, Norris surrendered a grand slam to Edwin Encarnación with the score tied in the bottom of the eleventh that gave the Cleveland Indians and 11–7 win over the Angels). From April 22 to August 4, Norris collected 18 saves for the Angels. He was relieved from the closer role after August 4 in favor of Bedrosian.
St. Louis Cardinals
On February 14, 2018, Norris signed a one-year contract with the St. Louis Cardinals. On May 1, 2018, Norris was named the Cardinals closer. He finished his 2018 campaign with a 3-6 record and a 3.59 ERA along with going 28-for-33 in save opportunities in 64 games.
Toronto Blue Jays
On March 6, 2019, Norris signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays that included an invitation to spring training. Norris was released on April 2, 2019.
Philadelphia Phillies
On January 21, 2020, Norris signed a minor league deal with the Philadelphia Phillies. Norris was released on July 16, 2020. Bud is now pitching as an MLB Free Agent with the Sugar Land Lightning Sloths (formerly Skeeters) of the Constellation Energy Independent League.
Pitching style
Norris throws five pitches, although against right-handers he uses only his four-seam fastball (91–94 mph) and slider (83–87). Against lefties, he adds a changeup (85–87). Especially against righties, the slider is his favorite two-strike pitch. It also carries a whiff rate of 38%. Norris also throws a sinker and a curveball. Norris had a win-loss record of 38–49 at the end of the 2013 season. He allowed 1.1 home runs for each nine innings and a 1.411 WHIP ratio of baserunners. He also has a high strikeouts per nine innings ratio. He has finished in the top 10 among National League pitchers in 2011 and 2012.
Personal life
Norris married his longtime girlfriend Hayley Sullivan in Kona, Hawaii on December 8, 2018.