Toronto Blue Jays: 5 Best Players Weekend nicknames

With Players Weekend this weekend, what are the best nicknames the Toronto Blue Jays players will wear on their back?

This Friday kicks off the second annual Players Weekend, a three-day stretch where Major League Baseball lets players swag out on the field by letting them put cool nicknames on funky-colored jerseys and wear whatever flashy equipment they could only dream of using any other time in the season. The Toronto Blue Jays host the contending Philadelphia Phillies for the weekend.

After a successful inaugural Players Weekend last year, it seems to have only gotten bigger. Apparel companies are taking the initiative to provide players with decked-out gear, such as the nickname-inspired bats Louisville Slugger provided for their sponsored athletes:

Every player gets to don a nickname on the back of their jersey (except for the boring players who couldn’t think of a nickname. Half of the nicknames are just word-play on a guy’s last name, it’s really not that hard. You’re better than that, Wil Myers).

The Toronto Blue Jays variations of nicknames are consistent with the rest of the league; few don creative non-name based monikers, usually just slightly altering one’s last name to make it sound somewhat catchy. As a result, I’ve taken the initiative to list the five best nicknames adorned by Blue Jays players. And no, Josh Donaldson‘s “Bringer of Rain” did not make it on the list. It really isn’t a good nickname especially since he gave it to himself.

Without further ado, check out the most creative nicknames you’ll see on the back of the home team’s jerseys at the Rogers Centre as the Philadelphia Phillies come to town for a 3-game interleague series, hoping to keep pace with the Atlanta Braves in the NL East, while the Jays intend to give the Braves some breathing room.

#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.

#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.