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Interview: Getting to know Toronto Blue Jays Prospect Daniel Norris
Mandatory Credit: Jay Blue
In our quest to interview some of the top farmhands in the Toronto Blue Jays system, we’ve had the opportunity in the last month or so to sit down with Matt Boyd, Dalton Pompey, and Kendall Graveman. All three were great interviews, were easy to talk to, and had great personalities.
However, Blue Jays #4 prospect Daniel Norris is a different cat altogether.
The epitomy of “easy-going”, Daniel Norris takes pride in his down to earth ways. He spent the first month of spring training living in his 1978 Volkswagen Westfalia van. He finds apt comparisons between pitching and his second love, surfing. Most importantly, he sees the value of working hard and the reward for putting the time in.
I had a chance to sit down and talk to the Blue Jays lefty about a number of things, from his perspective on life, his continued improvements, his electric start to the season at Dunedin (4-0, 0.72 ERA, 10.7 K/9), and a look at his teammates.
Daniel Norris pitches for the Lansing Lugnuts in Lansing, Michigan on August 9, 2013. Mandatory Credit: Jay Blue
Daniel Norris…On Pitching
Jays Journal – You made huge strides in the second half of last year, what can you tell us about the work you did with pitching coach Vince Horsman?
Daniel Norris – Vincent was awesome. Stuck with me by & by. Through thick and thin ya know. He saw something in me I guess. Maybe it was the drive to get better. He spent a lot of time with me and helped me get out of that funk.
JJ – The success has definitely carried over into this year as you are slashing through the Florida State League. Is there a specific area you are hoping to improve this season or what are your goals?
…if I ranked ahead of Daniel Norris of yesterday then I’m on the right track
DN – For me, I look at each day as an opportunity to get better. I realize you may get that answer from many players. It’s almost cliché. The right thing to say… but I’ve really taken that seriously so far. Each time I begin my throwing program I get to work on repeating my delivery & so on.
JJ – You’ve made several adjustments to your delivery over the years. Can you talk us through those changes and how they’ve benefited you?
DN – Believe it or not they weren’t even that big of changes. Adjustments on my stride here and there.. getting my hands out over the rubber. And the main one was learning how to get on top of the ball and deliver it on a down hill plane.
JJ – Your fastball and curve ball are said to be your calling cards. That said, which pitch or pitches do you still feel you need to master for your arsenal to be complete?
DN – At this point in my career, I’ve come to realize I can get batters out with all 4 of my pitches. It’s all about execution. Every pitching coach I’ve had likes one of my off speeds better than the other. One likes the curve ball. One likes the slider. And one likes the change-up. It just depends on who you ask.
Mandatory Credit: Jay Blue
Daniel Norris…On Teammates
JJ – In talking with both Matt Boyd and Kendall Graveman, we’ve heard the Derrick Chung is a huge asset behind the plate. Can you describe your relationship with him and how he aids you as a pitcher?
DN – 3 words; Big League Catcher. Seriously, the guy is unbelievable behind the plate. Receiving… Yes. Throwing…Yes. Hitting…Yes. But it is the mental side of the game for him that is extremely impressive for me. He always has a plan. He is always relaxed and enjoying the game.
JJ – The D-Jays have an incredible group of defensive players playing behind you, including two of the best outfielders in the system in Dalton Pompey and Dwight Smith Jr. How important is it for you as a pitcher to know you have a quality defense behind you?
DN – Both of those guys are big leaguers. It’s fun to watch those guys play. They’ve saved me a few times. It’s great to see both of them having awesome years. – I realize I threw the big league card out on 3 players right now with Chung, Pony & Smitty. But that’s just a testament to how good our team really is.
Norris pitching for the Bluefield Blue Jays in the summer of 2012 (Image via YourVanCs.com)
Daniel Norris…On His Future
JJ – With your success in Dunedin early this season, we’d have expected a move up to New Hampshire by now. However, we also know that the D-Jays are primed for a playoff run. Has the team had any discussion with you on their plans for you later this season? Are you able to elaborate on that at all?
DN – Ya know, I haven’t heard anything and to be honest, I’ve haven’t put much thought into it. It’s one of those things that’s out of my control. So why place my worry in it? That being said, I trust the Jays developmental staff with my career. All of them are awesome guys with my best interest at heart. They’ve been in this game a lot longer than I.. so I figured they know what’s best.
JJ – MLB.com had you ranked as the 4th best prospect in the Blue Jays system (Jays Journal has you at #5), and every guy in between you and the top spot is a fellow pitcher. How important is it for you to be considered that highly in such a great group of arms?
DN – Ah ya know I appreciate the interest and all that but back to those things you can’t control. At the end of the day I gotta rank myself compared to myself of the previous day.. and if I ranked ahead of Daniel Norris of yesterday then I’m on the right track.
May 17, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; A view of a Toronto Blue Jays ball cap and logo during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Blue Jays at Globe Life Park in Arlington. The Blue Jays defeated the Texas Rangers 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Daniel Norris…On Life
JJ – I have to ask you about the 78 Volkswagen Westfalia that you camped out in prior to spring training. That thing was awesome. It seems like living a sustainable lifestyle is important to you, is that something that was instilled in you growing up?
DN – I think simplicity is the key to life. Keeping things merely at what I truly need is how I try to live my life. For me, I just find it unnecessary to always be on the lookout for what’s coming out next or what’s new on the block. As I’ve grown and matured I’ve found interest in seeing how long my things can last. So far in life I’ve found that Patagonia takes the bill in the aspect of clothing. Stuff lasts forever.
JJ – We understand that you love to surf, but we also know you were born and raised in Johnson City, TN, which by my last account is nowhere near the ocean. How did you come to get into surfing and where do you find the best waves?
DN – haha yeah. Funny story. It was just one of those things I grew up seeing on TV or in magazines. We were always on the mountain growing up but when I was old enough to travel on my own I decided to teach myself how to ride these walls of water. Best waves for me so far were in Popoyo, Nicaragua.
JJ – Is there one thing that Blue Jays fans should know about you but probably don’t already know that you’re willing to share?
DN – I’m really funny. I don’t always make the people around me laugh but I sure appreciate my humor. I think I’m the 2nd funniest person on the earth behind Jimmy Fallon.
Thanks go out to Daniel Norris for taking the time to talk with us and for being a fantastic interview. He was cool enough to answer these questions after pitching 5.1 shut-out innings with 8 strike-outs on Tuesday night.