These two Marlins look to take advantage of their new opportunities

The Baltimore Orioles had an impressive run atop the rankings of major league farm systems.

The Birds developed those players into one of baseball’s best teams and the major league roster is full of homegrown talent. But there was simply not enough room for every top Orioles prospect to be on the same roster.

The O’s traded two of their young stars last season at the trade deadline to acquire Trevor Rogers from the Miami Marlins. Many Orioles fans were less than thrilled when the trade occurred and Rogers, who will be starting this season on the IL, has not done much to change people’s minds.

Meanwhile Kyle Stowers and Connor Norby are both projected to start for the Marlins this year.

Stowers, who made the Opening Day roster with the O’s in 2023, will look to find more consistency while getting regular playing time.

A former top prospect in Baltimore, Stowers played in 67 games with the Orioles over parts of three seasons. It looked like he was finally going to breakthrough in 2023 before injuries robbed him of most of the season.

It’s been a slow start to the spring for Stowers who has just one hit, a single, in his first eight at-bats, but he has shown good command of the strike zone while drawing four walks.

In a recent interview, Stowers mentioned the challenge of adapting to pitchers as they adapt to him.

Having never been an everyday player, Stowers said he can no longer hide some of his weaknesses. Now 27 years old, this may be his last chance at regular playing time.

Kyle Stowers and Connor Norby are primed to lead the Marlins’ offense in 2025

The other half of the package sent to Miami, Norby, is set to be the Opening Day third baseman for the Fish. Norby had been shifted around defensively in the Orioles farm system but was primarily a second baseman and hadn’t played third base since college.

He had some growing pains defensively while learning his new position but offensively, he can flat out rake.

In 36 games with the Marlins, Norby had eight doubles, seven homers and 17 RBI’s. Over a 162 game season that would equate to 36 doubles, 31 homers and 76 RBI’s.

Those numbers would have ranked him first in doubles, third in homers and fourth in RBI’s on last year’s Orioles squad.

In what will be his first full season in the majors, Norby is as hungry as ever. He’s listed as the starter but isn’t taking anything for granted, stating “If you don’t feel like you’re getting chased, then someone is going to catch you.”

That’s a statement any competitor can understand. Hopefully he and Stowers can find success in their new opportunities.