When the Detroit Tigers acquired pitcher Daniel Norris from the Toronto Blue Jays last season, many people knew Norris as the man who lived in his van.
Now, the 22-year-old starting pitcher wrote a story in The Players' Tribune saying he is "More than Just the 'Man in the Van.'"
In the article, Norris writes that he feel most people think of the van when they see him or hear his name. "Maybe thy think about my surfing, or my photographer, or even my cancer. These are things they've probably read about," Norris wrote. He battled and beat thyroid cancer in the offseason.
Norris also wrote that he felt something has gotten lost in all of his adventures.
"Take a look above at my interest and hobbies. The van. The outdoors. Surfing. Now look at the term that comes before each one," Norris wrote. "It's what defines me just as much - probably more - than any of these other things. Baseball player.
"That's because above all of my other hobbies and interests, I'm a baseball player first. It's what I'm most passionate about," Norris added.
He wrote that all he thinks about is baseball, and his least favorite day of the year is the last day of the baseball season.
In the article, Norris also writes about his time in the minor leagues, and getting stronger before realizing he just needed to be Daniel Norris.
"Even today my manager, Brad Ausmus, always tells me, 'Don't try to be Clayton Kershaw or Justin Verlander. Be Daniel Norris, because that's the reason you're here,'" he wrote.
"I'm just a baseball player who lives a little unconventionally - especially for a major leaguer," Norris wrote.
He said he lives his life in search of three things: Eternal life, the strike zone and good waves.
