Gotta do what you gotta do, right? @COALATREE @VictorAxes #wilderness @katjoywilliams w the for #thefouledanchor pic.twitter.com/hLosFbfKUh
— Daniel Norris (@DanielNorris18) January 23, 2015
In case you're wondering..... #vanlife pic.twitter.com/iF9GNLactv
— Daniel Norris (@DanielNorris18) January 21, 2015
“@GrindTV: Toronto Blue Jays pitcher @DanielNorris18 opts for life on four wheels. http://t.co/vD9sfDBYSQ pic.twitter.com/Be0NehR7LY” good stuff
— Daniel Norris (@DanielNorris18) February 5, 2015
All is well with my soul. #jklivin pic.twitter.com/kmxIeLpKA6
— Daniel Norris (@DanielNorris18) February 20, 2015
Had a good time with @VICE today shooting a documentary film. Stay tuned. Should be tight. @VICESports #jklivin pic.twitter.com/bKM0SEEArL
— Daniel Norris (@DanielNorris18) February 4, 2015
Coffee anyone? #vanlife #frenchpress pic.twitter.com/u9cxqh1S7f
— Daniel Norris (@DanielNorris18) February 3, 2015
Dinner during the golden hour. 5 star restaurant. #getwhatupayfor #vanlife #jklivin pic.twitter.com/G7zgy57uiv
— Daniel Norris (@DanielNorris18) January 17, 2015
Anyone hungry? I'm cookin stir fry at 5000+ ft elevation. pic.twitter.com/M8k7kF2NY0
— Daniel Norris (@DanielNorris18) December 28, 2014
In case you were wondering what I actually wake up to... before the beautiful sunrise I get to see this mess. pic.twitter.com/DiKuPPbP5Z
— Daniel Norris (@DanielNorris18) February 19, 2014
WASHINGTON — Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Daniel Norris has made headlines recently — not because his talent is wavering. Not because he is part of a scandal. Not because he is injured.
It’s because he lives in a 1978 Volkswagen van — often parked behind a Florida Walmart during the team’s spring training. Also, the lefty with a 92 mph pitch shaves with an ax, prepares his meals on a camp stove and has been known to fall asleep on the beach.
Norris, 21, doesn’t live this lifestyle out of necessity. He received a $2 million signing bonus when he began his professional baseball career in 2011 and he has a deal with Nike, ESPN The Magazine reports. Norris lives out of a van because it helps him stay balanced and focused.
“I’m not going to change who I am just because people think it’s weird,” Norris told ESPN. “The only way I’m going to have a great season is by starting out happy and balanced and continuing to be me. It might be unconventional, but to feel good about life I need to have some adventure.”
The van — named “Shaggy” after the “Scooby Doo” character — has been Norris’ “best friend and his spiritual center,” ESPN reports.
While living in a van may be unconventional, the team’s assistant general manager, Tony LaCava says it doesn’t seem to affect Norris’ performance.
“He takes care of himself as well as anybody we’ve got,” LaCava told ESPN. “He’s in great shape. He competes on the mound. If that wasn’t the case, maybe we’d be more worried about some of the other stuff. But right now, the van and all that is secondary. He has great values, and they’re working for him.”
See images Norris has posted on Twitter in the gallery above.
h/t: People