Since there’s not much else to talk about, let’s recap a signing that alluded most fans while a flurry of MLB trades went down pre-lockout.
Back on November 24th, the White Sox and free-agent outfielder Ben Norman quietly agreed to a minor league contract. The deal was announced by the Iowa native in an Instagram post a few days later, which can be seen below.
Norman, 23, played collegiately for the Iowa Hawkeyes before going undrafted in the 2021 MLB Draft. He finished out his college career tied for first in games played (220), ranked third in at-bats (750), tied for fifth in total bases (390), sixth in doubles (46), ninth in RBIs (125), 11th in hits (203) and steals (46), tied for 11th in runs (133), and tied for 12th in singles (131). He was also named a First-Team All-Big Ten selection and ABCA/Rawlings First-Team All-Midwest Region honoree this past season.
Following the draft, Norman played in the Pioneer Baseball League for the Great Falls Voyagers this summer, formerly a Rookie Advanced league affiliate of the White Sox. During 40 games with the club, Norman hit an impressive .356/.675/.418 with 13 home runs, 59 RBI, and a 1.093 OPS in 163 at-bats.
For the Sox, this is a signing that better allows the club to see what Norman can bring to the table. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound outfielder manages to use all fields when hitting with consistent, hard contact. He’s also a plus runner and an average defender with a below-average arm. This will most likely lead to him playing in corner outfield spots as he works his way up the system.
Per the MiLB.com transaction tracker, the organization assigned Norman to the ACL White Sox once the deal became official.
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Featured Photo: Iowa Hawkeyes/Twitter
