Norris ready for another shot at AFL

Potomac Nationals catcher Derek Norris joined us on the set of MASN's Nats Xtra to talk baseball Sunday and said he welcomes the challenge of recent acquisition Wilson Ramos. "You are going to face competition somewhere along the line at every level," the 21-year-old said. But he's not down about the trade as it pertains to his future with the Nats. The Wichita, KS product has been hitting the ball very well since recovering from a couple of injuries earlier in the season. He is batting .240 with 50 runs, 11 doubles, seven homers and 31 RBI in 64 games this season. In the last 10 games he has hit .286 with 2 doubles, 2 homers, 11 walks and 5 RBI. A hamate injury to his hand forced him to miss the Arizona Fall League last season and that caused him to get out of the blocks slower than he would have wanted to begin this year. Then, early in the season, he got hit in the head with a fastball and spent time on the disabled list. Now that he is fully recovered, Norris feels like he is hitting his stride at the plate as the P-Nats play well on the field, compiling an 18-16 record to start the second half of the Carolina League. Norris also told us he is excited to play for former manager Randy Knorr for Scottsdale (Nationals entrant) in the Arizona Fall League this offseason. Derek said he missed the chance to catch for Phoenix last year because he injured the hamate on the final at bat of 2009 and is anxious to get that opportunity again this year. As Ray Knight told Norris today, the chance to get a ton of at bats against quality pitchers that he missed out on in the Fall of 2009 is always a good thing for a young player.