Rogelios Noris

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2007
VSL:  284/371/468, 218 AB, 14 2B, 1 3B, 8 HR, 30 BB, 45 K, 4-6 SB

Noris had an outstanding debut, finishing among the VSL leaders in doubles, HRs, RBIs and slugging.  His K rate was high but not alarming, at slightly over one in five ABs in a league where K rates tend to be low.  He had a good walk total.

2008
VSL:  272/366/452, 217 AB, 14 2B, 2 3B, 7 HR, 27 BB, 48, 3-6 SB

Surprisingly, the Pirates sent Noris back to VSL for a second year.  He had a similar but slightly weaker season.

2009
R:  250/325/485, 136 AB, 10 2B, 2 3B, 6 HR, 11 BB, 51 K, 2-3 SB

In his US debut, Noris hit for very good power, although most of HRs came in one week.  His plate discipline started to go south, though.  He had a huge platoon split.

2010
A:  236/281/410, 407, 20 2B, 3 3B, 15 HR, 15 BB, 144 K, 9-11 SB

The Pirates challenged Noris by moving him up to West Virginia and his performance remained similar:  almost no walks, an extremely high K rate, and good power.  He improved over the course of the season.  Before the SAL All-Star break, he hit 211/243/408.  After, it was 265/324/413, although his K rate actually increased.  This time he had a reverse platoon split.

2011
A:  212/241/367, 316 AB, 14 2B, 4 3B, 9 HR, 9 BB, 91 K, 1-3 SB

Noris returned to West Virginia and it was clear from the start that the Pirates don’t regard him as a significant prospect.  He played only semi-regularly.  He had a terrible time with LHPs, hitting 182/204/250 against them, and his BB:K ratio got even worse.

Noris appears to have lost his prospect status.  I suppose it’s possible he could have the sort of dramatic turnaround that Wes Freeman had in 2011, but he’s a year older than Freeman; he’ll open 2012 at 23.  He’ll probably be a backup in class A.  He’ll be eligible for the Rule 5 draft this off-season but won’t be selected.