Toronto Blue Jay prospect Daniel Norris is getting a lot of attention leading up to spring training, though not on account of his arm. The aspiring pitcher has attracted a lot of attention for his off-season lifestyle, which consists of living in a 1978 Volkswagen van and surfing as often as he can. Norris is, for lack of a better word, a modern vagabond.

"Through backpacking, you really learn to be self-sustainable, and not only through backpacking but also living out of the van and even hiking," he explains to MiLB.com. "That's a really important thing and it feels really good to be able to take care of yourself... As a pitcher, you're the guy making the pitches. You're the one the whole team's depending on. Living by yourself in a van, you've got to tend to yourself, cook for yourself, and if anything goes wrong, just deal with it. It teaches me a lot about adversity."

Norris has only pitched six and half innings in the big leagues, but he's one of the top ranked left-handers in baseball. This will be a big year for him career-wise, but he's bound to become a fan favourite if he makes good on his potential. Perhaps his off-season explorations will help him to navigate the season ahead.

Photo via the Toronto Blue Jays