Stormin' Norman
Sydney drafted Norman Durney with the 15th overall pick in the second round of the 2062 draft. Durney was seventeen years old and a high school graduate at the time. He pitched as a starter all four years in high school. A native of Perth, Australia, Norman is fairly advanced in his development for his age. He had a 40 future value and potential ratings of 5/5/5 at the time he was drafted, with actual ratings of 4/4/5. He was already pretty far along.
This is what his official scouting report has to say:
In the GBC, Durney looks like a potential ace. This is perhaps a good illustration of the difference in talent levels between the two leagues.Durney is an intimidating presence on the mound. His three-pitch arsenal includes a plus-plus sinker, a plus-plus cutter, and an average fastball. He has strong control that should limit the number of free passes he surrenders, and his stuff and movement are average. Durney's ceiling is likely that of a fifth starter.
Durney's current official future value is 60, with potential scores of 7/5/7. His current overall value is rated at 40. Norman's velocity currently tops out at 98 mph, his velocity potential is reckoned to be 98-100 mph. His stuff rating hasn't budged since he was drafted, stubbornly holding at 4. His stamina is rated at 6, which isn't exceptional for a starter. He has averaged nearly six innings per start in the minors so far. If he's on a pitch count, it's high. He threw more than a hundred pitches three times in 2063.
Sydney has moved Durney along in the minors at a good pace. He spent '62 in rookie ball and Class A, where he excelled (86 and 52 FIP-). He spent '63 in Class AA, where he was challenged by hitters, but worked around a ballooning HR rate and rising BABIP (81 FIP-). Going into his age 19 season, does Sydney move him on up to AAA Lagos? He's my favorite kind of player. The kind you get outside of the first round who rockets up the prospect rankings, and bingo-bango, you've got the best starter prospect in the consortium.
Norman has had mixed results in the development complex. While in high school, he excelled at improving a secondary pitch. The sinker has emerged as (potentially) his best pitch. For Sydney, he did not meet with success in what was essentially the same program. One would expect to see him at the complex again this offseason.
Durney's makeup is pretty good, with a high adaptability. His injury proneness is reckoned to be 'Normal', downgraded from 'Durable” back in May. He's missed about 8 weeks in the past two seasons with minor injuries.
