Young sports stars: Ugh, they're all egomaniacs who start spending lavishly once they begin raking in that big-league cash, right?
Wrong -- at least in the case of one millionaire top Major League Baseball prospect named Daniel Norris.
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Norris is 21 years old. The Toronto Blue Jays drafted him picked him in the second round of the 2011 MLB Draft, and gave him a $2 million signing bonus. So he probably lives in some swanky condo while working his way up to bigs right? Wrong again.
Norris is spending spring training in Florida living behind a Walmart in a 1978 Volkswagon van he bought for $10,000. In an excellent profile recently, ESPN The Magazine anointed him "the most interesting man in baseball."
The magazine isn't wrong. Norris calls his house/car Shaggy, after the Scooby-Doo character, and he throws a fastball exceeding 90 miles per hour. He's a cornerstone of the Blue Jays' future, but you wouldn't know it from looking at him.
Happy Valentine's Day from me & mine. #vanlife #together4ever - shot by @low_pez for @vice A photo posted by Daniel Norris (@danielnorris18) on Feb 14, 2015 at 3:05pm PST
Here's another look at man and van:
The elusive van you've been hearing about just rolled into Dunedin with @DanielNorris18 #BaseballBegins pic.twitter.com/oxb07NHSBP— Blue Jays (@BlueJays) February 18, 2015
“I still cook my own meals, I have a kitchen -- it’s a little fuel-powered stove and I’ve got a couple pots and pans -- and it works pretty well," Norris told Baseball America in early February. "I enjoy it. The way I grew up, my dad owned a mountain bike shop and that’s really it, so we had to learn to take care of yourself and be sustainable with what you have.”
Dinner during the golden hour. 5 star restaurant. #getwhatupayfor #vanlife #jklivin pic.twitter.com/G7zgy57uiv— Daniel Norris (@DanielNorris18) January 17, 2015
Norris told ESPN that he hopes his simple, alternative lifestyle will help sports fans pay more attention to the environment -- a cause he plans to continue championing after his playing days.
You can read the full profile for more, but for now we'll leave you with some pieces of wisdom from a guy who seems to have life figured out pretty well.
Be kind. Be courteous.— Daniel Norris (@DanielNorris18) February 26, 2015
Just keep Livin— Daniel Norris (@DanielNorris18) March 4, 2015
Duly noted.
And if you're wondering, it doesn't appear as if Norris has any second thoughts about his minimalist lifestyle:
All is well with my soul. #jklivin pic.twitter.com/kmxIeLpKA6— Daniel Norris (@DanielNorris18) February 20, 2015