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Toronto Blue Jays: 5 Best Players Weekend nicknames

By Nick Reid

SEATTLE, WA - AUGUST 3: Manager John Gibbons of the Toronto Blue Jays smiles during batting practice before a game against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field on August 3, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. The Blue Jays won the game 7-2. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - AUGUST 3: Manager John Gibbons of the Toronto Blue Jays smiles during batting practice before a game against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field on August 3, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. The Blue Jays won the game 7-2. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Blue Jays
TORONTO, ON – AUGUST 12: Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Ken Giles (51) and Toronto Blue Jays catcher Luke Maile (21) following the win. Toronto Blue Jays Vs Tampa Bay Rays in MLB season play at Rogers Centre in Toronto. Jays win 2-1. Toronto Star/Rick Madonik (Rick Madonik/Toronto Star via Getty Images) /

#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.

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