What’s in a nickname? On Players Weekend, whatever you want
Credit Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager with a wry sense of humor.
A former All-Star and Gold Glove recipient, Seager has done so many interviews in recent years regarding his talented younger brother, Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager, that he often jokes that he is best known as Corey’s brother.
So when players got the opportunity to wear a nickname of their choosing on their jerseys later this month for the new Players Weekend promotion, Seager chose to have “Corey’s Brother” on his back.
It caused an instant sensation on twitter and other social media outlets.
“I didn’t think it was coming out this early,” Kyle Seager said. “I thought I had a few more weeks to think of some good lines. That seems to be what I’m referred to lately. That’s what I went with.”
Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association released details of the promotion Wednesday, which it touts as “a player-focused event that will include players wearing colorful, non-traditional uniforms featuring alternate designs inspired by youth league uniforms.”
The uniforms will be worn at all games played during the weekend of Aug. 25-27, when the Mariners are in New York for a three-game series at Yankee Stadium.
Each player’s right sleeve will also have a patch with a blank space that permits him to thank a person or organization he credits as “instrumental to his development.”
Some of the Mariners’ nickname choices are not surprising.
Right-handed pitcher Felix Hernandez will (what else?) go by “King Felix.” Designated hitter Nelson Cruz will use his “Boomstick” nickname, and outfielder Jarrod Dyson selected his “Zoombiya” handle.
And left-handed pitcher James Paxton will, naturally, use “Big Maple.”
Tentative plans for some other uniform nicknames include:
- Second baseman Robinson Cano: Don’t You Know
- Shortstop Jean Segura: El Mambo
- Outfielder Guillermo Heredia: El Conde
- Closer Edwin Diaz: Sugar
- Reliever Marc Rzepczynski: Zep
- Starting pitcher Yovani Gallardo: Yo
- Catcher Carlos Ruiz: Chooch
Bob Dutton: @TNT_Mariners
This story was originally published August 9, 2017 at 10:23 AM with the headline "What’s in a nickname? On Players Weekend, whatever you want."