Do You Know How to “Flush It”?

Connor Norby, a talented middle infielder now with the Miami Marlins, has always carried a mature perspective on the game. A few years back, when he was still a rising prospect in the Baltimore Orioles organization, I had the chance to talk with him about the lessons he’d learned along the way—wisdom passed down from coaches, mentors, and experiences in the minors.

Norby shared a couple of insights that stuck with him, both from hitting coordinators who had helped shape his approach—not just to baseball, but to life.

“One coach told me, ‘You have to learn from your good days just as much as your bad ones.’ That really hit home for me. I took that advice and ran with it. It’s helped me a lot,” Norby said.

He also recalled a memorable piece of advice from another hitting coordinator who had spent time in the big leagues. This coach made his MLB debut at third base with a pretty iconic infield around him: Jimmy Rollins at shortstop, Chase Utley at second, and Ryan Howard at first. Not a bad group to learn from.

“He told me, ‘Reflect after the game, but once that jersey comes off, it’s over.’ You go back to being yourself—as a person, not just a player. You take the uniform off and re-enter the world as a human being. Good or bad, you leave it at the field. Then, the next day, the jersey goes back on and it’s time to go to work again.”

That mindset is crucial—not just for performance, but for mental well-being. There’s a tendency to dwell on what went wrong, but Norby emphasized that there’s just as much value in reflecting on what went right. Both are opportunities to grow.

In the baseball world, there’s a term often used: “flush it.” It means exactly what it sounds like—let it go, move on. Whether it’s a strikeout, a tough error, or a game you wish you could replay, the mentally strong players are the ones who can process it, learn from it, and then flush it. When you leave the clubhouse and step back into your everyday life, that baggage shouldn’t come with you—especially not to your family, your relationships, or your personal peace.

It’s not an easy skill to master. In fact, it can take years. But the ones who figure it out? They’re the ones who not only survive in the game—they thrive.

Thank you for checking out this edition of the Big League Perspective Newsletter! Be sure to share with a friend, teammate, or kid who may benefit! We’ll talk soon! In the meantime, be sure to connect on social media @billythebatboy. 🙌