Take two: Dante Nori hopes this Fall League stint leads him toward Philly
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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- A year ago, Phillies outfielder Dante Nori was here playing in the Arizona Fall League after a successful first full season of pro ball. There was some buzz that the 2024 first-round pick might use that stint –- delayed by two weeks by what was thought to be a minor leg injury -– as a springboard to a breakout season at the upper levels of the Phillies system in 2026.
The excitement level heightened when the Phillies' No. 7 prospect went 8-for-20 with a pair of home runs for Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic and an .837 OPS with Double-A Reading in April certainly didn’t dampen the enthusiasm.
That’s when things took a bad turn. Nori hit just .198/.261/.274 in May and then was shut down after five games in June with a substantial injury, one Nori now recognizes could have been the issue that also nagged him during last year’s Fall League stint.
“I remember it was like a hustle double the first week in April, like that first home series and felt it, tweaked it,” Nori said. “That didn't feel that good and that was kind of like on and off through April. ... Things were going well, it really wasn't bothering me, and then all of May was kind of just a grind to get on the field. I was on a training room table for two hours a day trying to just make it to the line, basically just get out there because I hate missing time and I want to help the team win.
“Then June comes around, we're in Binghamton, running one out ... I’m hurting us now. As soon as you're hurting the team, you don't really want to be in there anymore. As much as it sucks to take yourself out of the game and get checked out, something's really wrong here.”
The issue was eventually diagnosed as a stress fracture in his hip, a fairly unusual injury. Finding out what it was initially was scary -- Nori admits he thought his season was over -- but after struggling to figure out treatment, having it properly identified eventually provided some peace of mind and a plan.
“It was one of those things where every single day, we were trying to pinpoint it, ‘Hey, what is this?’” Nori said. “Some doctors said, 'This might just be a mild strain,' and some said, 'OK, this might be this.'
“It's a really rare and unique injury, so no one really knew what it was at the time. And then, finally, after you get the results back and they can actually lay it all out, ‘This is what it is,’ it was like, ‘OK, like now we can go from there.’”
Once Nori was informed he would return, he circled the date on the calendar and attacked rehab like he plays on the field, full tilt, until he could go full speed, and pain-free for the first time since last fall. He made it back in time to help Reading win the Eastern League title with guys like Aidan Miller (PHI No. 2/MLB No. 59), who also was returning from injury, and Kehden Hettiger. The three of them are roommates here in the Arizona Fall League.
After playing just 72 games, 20 post-injury, Nori jumped at the chance to make a return appearance in the desert. He’s gotten off to a so-so start with the Surprise Saguaros, Thursday's 0-for-3 performance with a walk in a 4-1 loss brought him to 2-for-13 over his first three games, though his stat line is secondary to him stacking at-bats and reps without any discomfort.
“I was really fired up [to come back],” Nori said. “I think I was out for like two and a half months, so that's the first time I've ever missed time and the longest, at the same time. So when I found out, I was very fired up to make up some of those at-bats I lost, and it's been a great experience so far. Last year, I loved it, so I'm excited to get back out.”
The do-over also can help the 22-year old hit the reset button and put him back where he was after last year’s Fall League experience: Seemingly on the verge of a breakout that could carry him to Philadelphia.
“I'm really fired up about it,” Nori said. “It's a great fan base. I really want to get up there and help the team win, so I’ll just use every day as a ‘Hey, let's get better, let's keep swinging, keep hitting, just stay healthy' mainly ... it's going to be fun. I'm really excited to continue playing.”