He 's considered one of the MLB 's most promising prospects , but Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Daniel Norris has chosen to escape the hype surrounding his baseball career by living out of a 1978 Volkswagon van outside a Wal-Mart . Predictably earning himself the nickname 'Van Man ' , the 21-year-old - who received a $ 2 million signing bonus - has currently parked the camper outside one of the mega-stores in the suburbs of Florida , saying it brings him peace of mind . He works out in the carpark , cooks his meals - mostly eggs and stir fries - on a portable stove and likes to go surfing during the day . 'It 's like a yin-and-yang thing for me , ' he told ESPN in a new interview . 'It 's like a yin-and-yang thing for me ' : Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Daniel Norris has chosen to escape the hype surrounding his baseball career by living out of 1978 Volkswagon camper he bought for $ 10,000 . Twins : Having traveled all over in the van , Norris has now pulled up stumps at a Wal-Mart in suburban Florida . ' I 'm not going to change who I am just because people think it 's weird . '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 . ' Norris paid $ 10,000 for the van in 2011 - straight after high school . He refers to it as 'Shaggy ' . Norris does n't spend all his time outside Wal-Mart . While there , he likes to read Jack Kerouac at night using a torch , but he also goes on trips through the mountains of Tennessee and to surfing destinations along the Carolina coast . At work : When not parked outside a Wal-Mart , surfing or on a road trip , Daniel Norris is considered by many as the 'future ' of the Toronto Blue Jays . Alternative : Beyond his quirks , Norris maintains his head is always in the game . Life on the road : With a love of the outdoors running in his family , the left-handed pitcher from Johnson City , Tennessee spends his the off-season camping in mountains and driving on the open road . He then drives to spring training in Florida . Norris hit the major league last year and hopes to make the Jays rotation this year . While he has become much more well-known for his alternative lifestyle , Norris maintains his focus is and always has been the game . 'Baseball 's been my No . 1 passion my whole life , ' Norris told Baseball America . `` All the stuff with the van is cool and ( a good story ) and that 's fine , but baseball is my main focus . 'That 's my main passion and what I think about the most . ' Fan club : Daniel Norris is seen here in a photo from his Twitter page . He says he has gotten used to 'people staring ' at how he camps out in carparks . Toronto Sun baseball columnist Bob Elliot recently said that , beyond his quirks , Norris has the sporting goods to back it up . 'To Blue Jays decision-makers and Blue Jays fans , it matters only if he can get people out , Elliot wrote . 'Well , so far ... so good . 'In his first start of the spring , as he tries to win a starting rotation spot , Norris worked a scoreless 1.2 'innings on Thursday night at Ed Smith Stadium , allowing two base-runners , while facing basically the Baltimore Orioles ’ opening day lineup . ' Interior : Norris keeps all his belongings - he owns one pair of jeans - in the Volkswagon .
Daniel Norris is considered the 'future ' of Florida Wal-Mart . He hopes to make the rotation this year and received a $ 2M signing bonus . The left-hander lives out of a 1978 Volkswagon camper . Currently parked outside a the Toronto Blue Jays . He also goes on surfing road trips along the coast and to Tennessee . Says it gives him the 'ying and yang ' he needs to play pro ball .