Toronto Blue Jays: 5 Best Players Weekend nicknames

#5 – Luke Maile: “Lukey Barrels”

If there was a title for “Most Improved” Players Weekend nickname, Luke Maile would be a front-runner. After donning “Mailes” last year, the new nickname he has this year is a big step in the right direction. This nickname came to fruition early on in the season, when Luke came through with some big hits including a walk-off home run against the Red Sox on April 17th.

Since then, Jays players and broadcasters have started calling him Lukey Barrels, and the nickname has stuck. Even though it doesn’t get thrown around too much nowadays with Maile getting sparing playing time behind rookie Danny Jansen, when you hear ‘Lukey Barrels’ being used it’s usually after the catcher comes clutch on offense or throws out a baserunner foolish enough to test out his cannon.

#4 – Ken Giles: “100 Miles Giles”

Newly acquired reliever Ken Giles earned his nickname early on in his career when he was with the Philadelphia Phillies. Stemming from the uncanny ability to reach triple digits with his fastball, “100 Miles Giles’ is a nickname intended to unnerve opposing batsmen, which Giles has struck out at an incredible 12.02 (!!) K/9 innings. That strikeout rate is one of the best of all-time (if Giles had enough innings to qualify) and his blazing fastball surely has something to do with it.

“100 Miles Giles” is a great nickname, arguably the best on the team, but I don’t have it as #1 because the moniker is not nearly as prevalent as it once was.

This season, Giles’ fastball soars at an average velo of 97.2 mph, and since being acquired by the Blue Jays earlier this month he hasn’t even touched triple digits once.

So even though it’s a fantastic nickname, Giles needs do a better job at backing it up in order to preserve its legitimacy. “97 Miles Giles” doesn’t have the same ring to it.

#3 – Yangervis Solarte: “Tutu”

Yangervis Solarte‘s nickname, Tutu, is one of the best among his teammates due to its originality and representation of his vibrant personality.

Solarte is one of the most charismatic (and gif-able) players in the entire league; with his electric energy, slew of nicknames, and fun dance moves, Players Weekend is made for guys like him. Solarte is a likable player who has become a fan favourite in just his first season with the Blue Jays.

In what has been an otherwise bleak 2018 campaign in Toronto, Solarte is a bright spot who has a knack for getting fans out of their seats with his electric home run trot followed by his signature salsa dance.

Solarte is a man of many nicknames. He donned “Pituki” on his Players Weekend jersey last year when he was with the San Diego Padres, and anytime the Blue Jays tweet something about him it’s usually accompanied with #ElSexyTime. I thought Solarte would go with #YanSolo, a play on his name that doubles down as a clever Star Wars reference.

However, I’m glad Solarte went with an original nickname in “Tutu”, which was given by a friend who preferred calling him that than trying to pronounce his first name. I’m sure it’s well-liked by his three daughters, and a tutu would be a nice accessory for Solarte when he uses the Rogers Centre artificial turf as a dance floor.

#2 – Teoascar Hernandez: “Oca”

Left fielder Teoscar Hernandez has been one of the Blue Jays’ best hitters in his first full season with the team. After he was acquired in a trade with the Houston Astros late last season, he made a great first impression by hitting 8 home runs in just 27 games as a September call-up with his new team. This season, Teo’s 18 long balls are tied for the second-most on the team.

His nickname is one most baseball fans would need to google to know how funny it is. The 25-year old Dominican chose a moniker that comes from his Spanish roots, as”Oca” stands for “Goose” in Hernandez’s native tongue.

Teoscar has yet to explain where his nickname comes from, but putting “Goose” on the back of his jersey is hilarious enough it doesn’t need context. I couldn’t make a guess as to where Hernandez got the nickname “Goose” from, but it has geographic allure as the Canada goose is the unofficial national bird, although they occasionally make pit stops at Comerica Park.

#1 – Marco Estrada: “Estratosphere”

And finally, the best Toronto Blue Jays’ Players Weekend nickname will be worn by Marco Estrada. This is the second consecutive year Estrada’s nickname was a play on his name, but this one is better than when “Estradabien” donned the back of his jersey for the 2017 Players Weekend.

It comes as a slight surprise that Estrada wears a Blue Jays jersey this Players Weekend as he was considered a trade candidate at July’s non-waiver trade deadline, but his 4.88 ERA, 6.64 K/9 and .801 opp. OPS makes him a less-than-favorable deadline acquisition for contending teams. However, Estrada has won his last two starts (albeit against the Royals and Orioles) and could still clear waivers and be dealt prior to the August 31st waiver trade deadline. He has one of the best changeups in the game, and when it’s working there are few big league hitters who can touch it.

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“Estratosphere” is a great play on words, and I’m not the only one who thinks it’s the best nickname to be adorned by a Blue Jay this weekend.

Given Estrada’s lackluster season, “Estratosphere” can be viewed by Blue Jays fans as self-deprecating humor because opposing hitters have sent Marco’s pitches into orbit quite often. Estrada’s 1.60 HR/9 IP this season is the 5th-worst mark in the entire league, but since he’s spent a considerable amount of time on the disabled list he doesn’t qualify for the league minimum innings to be on the list.

Marco Estrada is expected to make Saturday’s start against the Phillies, and Toronto Blue Jays fans will hope that he doesn’t live up to his nickname. The Rogers Centre will be host to a lot of home fans who will get to experience all the fun that Players Weekend offers.