Norris looks to turn strong finish into breakout year

DETROIT — Unlike last winter, Tigers manager Brad Ausmus hadn’t received any surfing photos from Daniel Norris as of a couple of weeks ago. However, the young left-hander has reprised his offseason travels, searching for the perfect coast.

Once he returns to Florida in February for Spring Training, he’ll be looking to ride the wave from his 2016 stretch run into ’17 as a critical piece of the Tigers’ rotation.

What Michael Fulmer meant to Detroit’s pitching staff this year, Norris could be next.

Really, before Fulmer began dominating American League hitters last summer, Norris was supposed to be the young starter to give the Tigers a boost. He entered Spring Training as the favorite to win the open spot at the back of the rotation, but a back injury diagnosed midway through camp sent him to the disabled list and a half-season of frustration.

Aside from a brief appearance as an extra reliever, Norris spent the first three months of the season in the Minor Leagues — first on a rehab assignment, then he was optioned to Triple-A Toledo. He made a couple of June fill-in starts in Detroit, but didn’t stick in the rotation until early …

continue reading in source mlb.mlb.com