Tim Norton trying to “make the transition into being a pitching coach”

Despite earlier reports that Tim Norton was throwing bullpens and feeling fine, Brendan McGair reports that Norton is currently serving as an interim pitching coach in Extended Spring Training, and there’s a chance he’ll work in a similar capacity for the Rookie Level Gulf Coast League team once the season starts in June.
“He wants to stay in the game, but I don’t think his arm was responding like he wanted it to,” said Pat Roessler, the Yanks’ director of player development. “He just didn’t come around like we had hoped … Right now Tim is trying to make the transition into being a pitching coach for us.”

You should definitely read the whole story here.

Norton, 28, was the an eighth round Yankees pick out of UConn in 2006. He's a New England guy and grew up in Rhode Island and obviously went to school at Uconn and obviously this blog loves guys with Connecticut ties. He’s battled significant shoulder problems as a pro, though last season he was so close to getting called up to the Bronx after striking out 46 and walking just eight in 30 IP for Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton. The shoulder acted up again and while it was initially reported as a minor issue, he was lost for the year and now maybe lost forever as a pitcher. Norton’s injury is part of the reason why the Yankees had to pick up Cory Wade. Norton's story is sad because he definitely had big league ability out of the bullpen and could have really contributed. The door to return is still open as Norton has not ruled it out, but his arm issues are out of his control.