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.

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.

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.

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.

What did you all think about the Phillies’ nicknames?