Top Blue Jays prospect willingly lives in a van by the ocean
The beautiful thing about professional baseball players is that no two of them are wired the same way. Though they all obviously share the same goal, which is to reach the major leagues and stay there for as long as possible, each has a distinct personality and a different approach to physically and mentally prepare for baseball’s grind.
Often times, those differences are subtle. However, there are a few extreme cases. As we learned on Wednesday, among those on the extreme side is top Toronto Blue Jays prospect Daniel Norris, who’s offseason preparation consists of spending several weeks living in a van down by the ocean.
No, this isn’t a Saturday Night Live skit coming to life, but that’s the first thought that comes to mind. While Norris’ 1978 Volkswagen van isn’t his permanent residence, for the third straight year it’s serving as his transportation to spring training in Dunedin, Florida and his gateway to finding peace of mind before a new season begins.
According to MiLB.com’s Josh Jackson, the 21-year-old left-hander makes the trek from his home in Johnson City, Tennessee, to Dunedin, but goes out of his way to make frequent stops to surf or go on other adventures that appeal to his outdoorsy nature. He’s equipped to cook his own meals and make his own morning coffee, so the Blue Jays don’t have to worry about frequent trips to nearby fast food restaurants. With that said though, the team is fully aware of his adventures and aren’t keen on them.
“[The Blue Jays] have expressed concern as far as living in the van. For them, it’s just, ‘Why?’ They’ve kind of said, ‘Well, we don’t think that’s a very good idea.’ I said, ‘You’ve got to understand, I’ve been doing stuff like this my whole life,'” explained Norris.
“They’ve kind of said, ‘Well, OK, but we don’t get it,’ and I’m kind of like, ‘I don’t expect you to get it — that’s OK.'”
The Blue Jays may not understand or like Norris’ approach, but it’s working for him. He’ll enter camp next month as the No. 25 prospect in baseball according to MLB.com, which indicates he has the physical tools to pitch in the big leagues. For him, though, there’s obviously a balance that needs to be achieved to uphold the mental side, and being in the outdoors gives him that balance.
“Being outdoors and in the outdoor world — all the activities out there — the action sports are a workout by themselves,” he said. “Obviously, I am getting my [baseball] work in. I am in the gym a lot during the offseason, but I really want to make sure I get out and do something in the mountains or go on a surfing trip as much as I can.
“I went on a number of hikes this year, just because I live in the mountains. I took a couple [shorter] surf trips down in South Carolina. It’s important to take a few days and enjoy some peace and quiet. I’m always going on journeys and hoping to find a little adventure. The offseason, I try to be surrounded by journeys, camping out and stuff.”
As Norris adds, his teammates generally think he’s weird, but the ones he’s been able to connect with quickly gain an appreciation for his approach.
And that’s part of what’s so impressive about Norris. He obvously has a unique perspective, but he’s willing to be unique to continue being himself and do what makes him most comfortable. It’s impossible not to respect that, and it’s clear that success won’t alter his mindset, even as his employers push for change.
There’s a lot more to Norris’ story at MiLB.com, including how his approach evolves throughout the season. It’s a most fascinating read that’s worthy of your time.
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813
