ST. PETERSBURG -- What’s in a name? For Blue Jays third baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the answer regarding his Players’ Weekend nickname is worth a little explanation.
While El K seems perhaps an ironic choice for a rookie who entered play Tuesday hitting at a .279 clip over his first 83 Major League games, it does not, in fact, have anything to do with a strikeout. Guerrero, the Blue Jays’ ambassador for this year’s Players’ Weekend, chose the nickname “El K” to honor one of the first nicknames he had.
Like many babies, Guerrero used sounds before he formed words. His first -- and by far his favorite -- sound was “ka,” the Spanish pronunciation of the letter “K.” An uncle took to calling the youngster “El K” after that, a nickname that has lasted 20 years.
With Players’ Weekend fast approaching, so, too, is the annual fun surrounding players’ nickname choices. The event will take place leaguewide from Aug. 23-25, and MLB released a full list of nicknames on Tuesday, as well as its 30 club ambassadors, with El K representing the Blue Jays.
Guerrero will be joined by teammates Reese “Pieces” McGuire, Trent “Butters” Thornton, Ken “100 Miles” Giles, Teoscar “Mr. Seeds” Hernandez and Lourdes “#Pinapower Jr.” Gurriel Jr., among others, as Toronto’s players put their creativity to the test when choosing their aliases.
“I never thought I would [have ‘El K’] on a big league jersey,” Guerrero said through translator Hector Lebron. “But I always wanted it on a shirt that eventually I was going to make for myself.”
Each Players’ Weekend, players are allowed to showcase their unique style, not only with a nickname but by putting personal touches on the equipment they use during the weekend. Players are allowed to design, wear and use creatively colored and decorated equipment, including bats, spikes, batting gloves, wristbands, compression sleeves and catchers' equipment. A patch honoring Tyler Skaggs, the Angels pitcher who died on July 1, will also be available for players to wear on their uniforms, if they choose.
Game-worn, authenticated Players’ Weekend jerseys and batting helmets will be auctioned at MLB.com/auctions. All proceeds will be donated to the MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation, a joint effort established in July 2015 by MLB and the Major League Baseball Players Association with an initial commitment of $30 million focused on improving the caliber, effectiveness and availability of amateur baseball and softball programs across the United States and Canada.
Bichette rests … kind of
Bo Bichette was Tuesday’s designated hitter against the Rays as Toronto gave its rookie shortstop a bit of a break to recover from a foul ball that struck his lower left leg during an at-bat on Monday night.
Bichette, who had an eight-game hit streak through Monday to start his Major League career, said the injury is not serious, and Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said he had no concerns this would be a lingering issue for his 21-year-old infielder.
Blue Jays to extend netting for 2020
Toronto announced on Tuesday that the club will extend the protective netting at Rogers Centre and the Blue Jays’ Spring Training home in Dunedin, Fla., next season. Details are still being worked out, but the plan will include netting extended farther down the baselines at both parks.
“Fan safety is paramount to the Blue Jays, and we believe that fans should feel protected and secure during our games,” said Andrew Miller, Toronto’s executive vice president of business operations. “Extending the protective netting at Rogers Centre and Dunedin Stadium is a clear next step for our organization and one that reflects our team’s values. As fans and followers of the game, it is vitally important for us to preserve and enhance the live baseball experience, while also ensuring everyone who visits our ballparks can do so safely.”