Washington Nationals The
Washington Nationals selected Norris in the fourth round of the
2007 Major League Baseball draft. spring training Norris spent the 2007 season with the
GCL Nationals, Washington's affiliate in the
rookie-level
Gulf Coast League. He played for the
Vermont Lake Monsters of the
New York–Penn League in 2008, the
Hagerstown Suns of the Single–A
South Atlantic League in 2009, the
Potomac Nationals of the High–A
Carolina League in 2010, and the
Harrisburg Senators of the Double–A
Eastern League in 2011.
Baseball America rated Norris the 38th best
prospect in baseball prior to the 2010 season and the 72nd best prospect in baseball prior to the 2011 season. He was also chosen as the Nationals' second best prospect prior to the 2011 season.
Oakland Athletics On December 23, 2011, the Nationals traded Norris,
A. J. Cole,
Tommy Milone, and
Brad Peacock to the
Oakland Athletics for
Gio González and Robert Gilliam. Norris made his MLB debut for the Athletics on June 21, 2012. He was called up to be a backup catcher behind offensively struggling catcher
Kurt Suzuki. He went 0 for 3, but made a key defensive play in the ninth inning throwing out Dodgers
Dee Gordon attempting to
steal second base. On June 24, 2012, the Athletics were trailing 2-1 against the
San Francisco Giants when Norris hit his first career
home run, and first career
walk-off home run. The three-run home run helped the Athletics defeat the Giants, 4–2. When Suzuki was traded to the Washington Nationals on August 3, Norris became the primary catcher for the team, backed up by the newly acquired
George Kottaras. Norris finished the 2012 season batting a
slash line of .201/.276/.349, with 7 home runs across 209
at bats and 53 starts at catcher. In 2013, Norris was the primary catcher in a catching platoon, backed up by left-handed hitters
John Jaso and
Stephen Vogt. Norris missed portions of August and September with a broken toe. He started 71 games at catcher and played in 98 games overall, hitting a slash line of .246/.345/.409 with 9 home runs and 30
RBI. He hit a slash line of .270/.361/.403 with 10 home runs across 385 at-bats, while making 93 starts at catcher with John Jaso as a back-up.
San Diego Padres On December 18, 2014, the Athletics traded Norris and Seth Streich to the
San Diego Padres in exchange for
R. J. Alvarez and
Jesse Hahn. Norris played in a career high 147 games in
2015, including 116 starts at catcher and 15 starts at first base. Despite moving to the National League, Norris racked up career highs in runs, RBIs, and home runs, and batted .250/.305/.404. In 2016, Norris struggled at the plate, posting a .186(career low)/.255/.328 slash line. Norris finished the season with 14 home runs, tying a career high, and 42 RBI. Despite the Padres pushing to trade Norris at the July 31 deadline, Norris remained with the team.
Washington Nationals (second stint) On December 2, 2016, the
Washington Nationals acquired Norris from the Padres in exchange for
Pedro Ávila. After the team signed free agent catcher
Matt Wieters, the Nationals reportedly attempted to trade Norris but were unable to find a taker. The Nationals granted Norris his unconditional release on March 15, 2017, rendering him a free agent eligible to sign with any team and allowing the team to pay only one-sixth of Norris' 2017 salary.
Tampa Bay Rays On March 25, 2017, Norris signed a one-year contract with the
Tampa Bay Rays. He was
designated for assignment on June 23, and released two days later. For the Rays, Norris batted .201/.258/.380 with nine home runs and 24 RBI. In an Instagram post, his former fiancée stated that Norris verbally and physically abused her and assaulted her in 2015. Norris denied the allegations and there was an investigation by MLB. He did not appeal his suspension, and forfeited the remaining $100,000 that was owed to him by the Rays. He was released prior to the start of the season on March 28, 2018. On April 14, 2018, Norris signed with the
Sugar Land Skeeters of the
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. In 117 appearances for Sugar Land, he batted .256/.379/.402 with 12 home runs and 57 RBI in 410 at-bats. Norris became a free agent following the season. ==References==