Bud Norris is emerging as the Astros' top pitching prospect.
Norris, 23, has a slider and a fastball with some command issues and is now working on a changeup:
"I was working on it a lot in Arizona, but if I have a three-pitch arsenal out of the pen that’s a great thing. As a starter, you get in a routine and have a feel for your pitches a little bit more, but as a reliever it’s more of an adrenaline rush. The changeup needs more work, but it’s still early.”
McTaggart projects Norris to open the season at Round Rock:
Norris could wind up as an end-of-the-game reliever because of his hard stuff, but the plan is to keep him in the rotation in the minors so he can work more innings and refine his pitches.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
