Ranking Phillies 2018 Player’s Weekend jersey nicknames
The Phillies and other MLB teams announced their 2018 Player’s Weekend jersey nicknames Thursday. Which nicknames are the best?
Last year’s Player’s Weekend was one of the most fun parts about the Phillies season. It allowed the players to display their creativity and mix up what jersey they’ll wear. Plus, it came right at the peak of Rhys Hoskins’s ridiculous MLB debut. Click here to read about last year’s nicknames.
The tradition is back again this year as the team announced the nicknames and jerseys for the 2018 Player’s Weekend, taking place Aug. 24-26. This year, the Phillies will be in Toronto facing the Blue Jays for the weekend.
Details on #PlayersWeekend have been announced, including uniforms and nicknames: https://t.co/gqz3ZFLtnl
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) August 9, 2018
What nickname would you suggest #AtPhillies put on the back of our jersey? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/kzHvcsYyXO
Which nicknames are the best? Which players displayed the most creativity?
Could have been better
While there are definitely several strong nicknames, a few players either used rather generic ones or simply didn’t pick a name at all.
29-27. Nick Pivetta, Enyel De Los Santos, and Pat Neshek
Pivetta, De Los Santos, and Neshek didn’t pick any nickname and only have their last names on their jersey. Pivetta didn’t have one last year either. They are probably just called by their first names in the clubhouse.
26. Adam Morgan: A-Mo
I wasn’t a fan of this nickname last year either and I’m still not. It just sounds forced.
25. Jerad Eickhoff: Eick
Well, it’s unlikely will even be there to wear this name on his jersey. He chose this one last year.
24. Zach Eflin: Ef
I will give Eflin some slack here. Last year, he tried to use the name “Led Zeflin”, but was shot down due to copyright issues. If they were able to work something out this year, I would be all over that.
23. Roman Quinn: Rome
Another name shortening one. This is likely what the other players call him, so can’t fault him for that.
22. J.P. Crawford: Craw
Of the ones in this tier, it’s not too bad. It at least sounds somewhat cool. It wouldn’t have surprised me if he chose J.P.
21. Aaron Nola: Nols
This one isn’t bad either. He didn’t pick a nickname last year, so he certainly upgraded. It sounds like something Gabe Kapler would call him, but I haven’t found any quotes in which he does.
20. Victor Arano: El Wey
This name means “the dude” in Spanish, but for whatever reason just doesn’t jump out at me.
19-18. Rhys Hoskins and Tommy Hunter: Big Fella & Bigger Fella
I don’t know how I feel about these nicknames. I appreciate them trying to go for a joint nickname, and it has some appeal. I just think they could have done better. Hoskins didn’t get the chance to have a nickname last year. Hunter was “Tommy Two Towels” with the Rays, which is better than what he has now.
Rhys Hoskins is “Big Fella” pic.twitter.com/oimTdZ2OoZ
— Matt Breen (@matt_breen) August 9, 2018
17. Aaron Loup: Wolf
Wolf doesn’t appear a nickname for Loup on Baseball Reference or anywhere else. He used the name “Loupy” with the Blue Jays last year, which is actually pretty strong. That name would have been better.
16. Vince Velasquez: Vincente
Velasquez picked this nickname last year, but for whatever reason, I was not a fan. This time around, I am starting to warm up to it.
15. Nick Wiliams: Nicky Dubs
This is another nickname that I rated pretty low last year, but have also warmed up to. Hopefully, some dubs come in Toronto that weekend.
14-13. Maikel Franco and Luis Garcia: Compa F & Compa G
The three Compas (short for Compadres) lost a member this year with Hector Neris demoted to Triple-A. It’s a shame as I was a real fan of the group last year, and the name doesn’t work as well with only two members. Still, it shows the ties between three (now two) players who rose up the minor-league ladder together.
12. Jake Arrieta: Snake
I’m a fan of the “Jake the Snake” rhyming here, even though the nickname is only Snake. WWE wrestler Jake “The Snake” Roberts made a hype video for Arrieta and the Cubs before Game Six of the World Series in 2016. An altered t-shirt version of this jersey will be given away Aug. 18 at Citizens Bank Park against the Mets to kids 14 and under.
11. Cesar Hernandez: Cesita
Hernandez got this nickname, which translates to “Cesita”, from his mother who was tired of trying to distinguish him from his father, who was also named Cesar.
10. Jorge Alfaro: El Oso
Alfaro received this nickname, meaning “the bear” when he signed with the Rangers in 2010. He used this nickname last year, and it’s certainly pretty good.
9. Odubel Herrera: Torito
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Herrera got the “little bull” moniker when he was a kid in Venezuela from his dad. Herrera’s whole playing style is like a bull in a china shop.
8. Asdrubal Cabrera: Chiquitín
Chiquitín translates to “tiny tot” as a noun in Spanish. This name is definitely ironic with Cabrera standing six feet tall and weighing 205 pounds, but that makes it all the better.
7. Wilson Ramos: Buffalo
This has been Ramos’s nickname for some time now. Ian Desmond gave it to him while he was a National since he was a big guy and always stayed in the game. Ramos used it last year with the Rays for Player’s Weekend.
6. Andrew Knapp: Knapp Time
This was arguably one of the strongest nicknames last year, and I feel a little bad putting it outside of the top five. The others simply appealed to me more, but this is still a strong nickname.
5. Carlos Santana: Slamtana
Slamatana is part of Santana’s Twitter username and is short, to the point, and doesn’t feel forced. He used it as an Indian last year and received positive feedback for it then.
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4. Austin Davis: Big Fudge
This award takes the cake as the most ridiculous. I have no idea how or why Davis has this nickname, but it is fun and will certainly be asked about when the weekend rolls around.
3. Seranthony Dominguez: Sir Anthony
I am so happy Dominguez picked this one. I’ve wanted this to catch on ever since one fan wore a monocle and top hat in the stands while the team was in Milwaukee. It’s a great play on his unique name. One day I want there to be a full-on “Sir Anthony’s” fan club, monocles and all.
2. Scott Kingery: JetPax
This is Kingery’s Twitter handle so it’s no surprise he uses it here. It’s just a fun name and is what this whole weekend is about.
1. Pedro Florimon: Don Ramón
Even if Florimon is on the disabled list, this is still my favorite nickname. The also belongs to a character on the Mexican TV show “El Chavo del Ocho”, a sitcom which ran during the 70s. Florimon may have gotten it from the show from his family or watching himself, but either way, I love the name and the backstory.
Next. Phillies: 5 questions that remain unanswered. dark
What did you all think about the Phillies’ nicknames?