Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Cleveland Indians Players Weekend nicknames 2018

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- MLB Players Weekend has arrived and once again the Cleveland Indians are participating with nicknames that range from solemn tributes to wacky references.

Many players chose to re-cycle last year's jersey moniker, including Francisco Lindor's "Mr. Smile" and Andrew Miller's "Miller Time."

But others chose to branch out and try something new. Notable improvements include Brandon Guyer's "La Piñata" and Jason Kipnis' "Dirtbag" (which is an oldie, but goodie, we know).

Edwin Encarnacion ("Rivera") and Michael Brantley ("Junior") chose to honor family members with their nicknames.

Others just went with whatever shortened version of their name Terry Francona has taken to calling them.

Here's a rundown of what we know about this year's Indians Players Weekend nicknames.

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Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Cody Allen: "CHICKEN"

Last year's nickname was the Spanish version, "Pollo." It's a reference to the live chicken that Allen's teammates trotted out during batting practice back in 2013. Allen had earned the nickname "Chicken Al" from then teammate Frank Hermann in spring training for his love of chicken Alfredo.

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Andy Clayton-King, AP

Greg Allen: "G-RAG"

Allen, when asked about the nickname he chose by SportsTime Ohio's Andre Knott, didn't sound too convinced he had made the best choice.

"In hindsight ... I could have had some better ideas out there," he said. "It's G-Rag ... Grag ... however you want to say it, really. Whatever works best for the fans. For my teammates. Umm. I'm just happy to be part of Players Weekend, so it's all good."

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Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Yonder Alonso: "MR. 305"

Alonso, a proud University of Miami Hurricane, has a camouflage jersey from The U stretched over the back of his chair in the Tribe's clubhouse and a Hurricanes football helmet hanging in his locker. It's no surprise that his nickname is a nod to Miami's three-digit area code, and the musician Pitbull, who occasionally goes by the same moniker.

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Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Cody Anderson: "BIG RIG"

Anderson has been on the disabled list all season. Next season, perhaps his jersey could read "Big Comeback."

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Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Trevor Bauer: "BAUER OUTAGE"

Bauer has surged to the top of conversation about American League Cy Young Award candidates this year. But it's hardly shocking that his nickname remains the same as last season -- it was featured recently in a Progressive Field jersey giveaway.

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Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Shane Bieber: "NOT JUSTIN"

If you don't agree with the rookie right-hander's choice of nickname, you can go and love yourself.

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Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Michael Brantley: "JUNIOR"

The three-time All-Star is known around Cleveland as "Dr. Smooth," and that's what appeared on his Players Weekend jersey last year. This year, Michael Charles Brantley pays homage to his father, Mickey, an outfielder with Seattle from 1986-89.

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Gary Landers, AP

Melky Cabrera: "MELK MAN"

This one's pretty much a slam dunk. The only way to improve upon it would be to work in a reference to LL Cool J's 1990 track "Milky Cereal." Because there ain't nothin' like a nice bowl of corn flakes in the morning to smooth you out.

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Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Carlos Carrasco: "COOKIE"

Classic. Elegant. It even comes with an accompanying emoji. Never change, Carlos.

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Charles Rex Arbogast, AP

Lonnie Chisenhall: "BIGLON"

Big Lon's been on the disabled list for most of the season, but Frank Thomas is already the "Big Hurt," so he couldn't go there. Maybe enough time has passed in Cleveland's post-Manziel era for "Lonnie Baseball" to be acceptable. Maybe not.

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Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Adam Cimber: "CIM"

Cimber's histrionics on the mound and his delivery are unique enough, so it's completely acceptable for the rookie to go with a simple, shortened version of his name. Lion King fans would have given him points for trying "Simba," but the folks at Disney probably would have disapproved.

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Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Mike Clevinger: "SUNSHINE"

Clev's nickname just fits with his personality. Like Ronnie "Sunshine" Bass from the film Remember the Titans, Clevinger's persona is reflected in his long, flowing hair and (sometimes illegal) colorful accessories such as gloves and cleats.

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Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Rajai Davis: "RAJ"

Davis is so fast that shortening his first name might actually save you enough time to catch him stealing a base.

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Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Edwin Encarnacion: "RIVERA"

Encarnacion chose leave the parrot at home and instead honor his mother, Mireya Rivera, with his jersey.

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Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Yan Gomes: "GOMER"

A favorite nickname often uttered by Terry Francona.

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Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Erik Gonzalez: "LA PARITA"

Gonzalez is either a big fan of the collaboration between Andre 3000 and Big Boi, or he's pretty emo and all up in his feelings. La Parita means "the outcast" in Spanish.

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Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Nick Goody: "GOODS"

Goody, who's been on the disabled list since May 4, has a nickname that's short and sweet.

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Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Brandon Guyer: "LA PIÑATA"

Last year, Guyer chose "BG" as his Players Weekend nickname, but when you get hit by as many pitches as Brandon Guyer has in his career (82 times in 1,438 plate appearances) you start to resemble something that children take joy at beating with a stick. This year, the piñata has been popped eight times. But after a June 16 relief outing where he pitched a perfect 1-2-3 inning, maybe "Kluber" would have been more appropriate.

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Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Brad Hand: "BROTEIN SHAKE"

It's a long shot that Hand is getting paid endorsement money from the folks at Geico for using their "Brocabulary."

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Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Jason Kipnis: "DIRTBAG"

During MLB Network commercials that aired during the 2017 season, narrators described Kipnis going through everyday tasks while covered in a cloud of dust. The "Dirtbag" nickname has been part of Kip's game for years.

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Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Corey Kluber: "KLUBER"

Last year fans were disappointed the two-time Cy Young Award winner did not go with "Klubot" on his jersey. Kluber has said that he is not a fan of the nickname, which describes his cyborg-like demeanor on the mound. His 2017 Players Weekend jersey said "Klubes." But this year, the righty has eschewed all creativity and individuality, going with his last name, plain and simple.

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Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Leonys Martin: "THE ASERE"

Pretty sure Martin is a big fan of Jeff Bridges in "The Big Lebowski" as his nickname, Spanish for "The Dude" would indicate.

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Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Andrew Miller: "MILLER TIME"

Last year, Miller rewarded his teammates in the Indians clubhouse by supplying them with personal coolers stocked with Miller Lite as a tie-in with the beverage giant. When the Progressive Field scoreboard displays your nickname in giant letters while flames shoot out of the center field wall every time you enter a game, you pretty much have to keep your nickname the same.

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Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Tyler Naquin: "BILLY"

Last season, Naquin was not with the club during Players Weekend and did not have a chance to issue a nickname. This year, he's on the disabled list and won't play. So we'll have to wait until next season to find out who Billy is.

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Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Dan Otero: "OT"

Otero got his nickname from Terry Francona, and it cost the Indians a win back in July when signals got crossed and Otero was forced to pitch against Cincinnati's Joey Votto with the bases loaded in the ninth.

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Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Oliver Perez: "OLLIE"

Perez was the pitcher Francona thought he was getting in the ninth inning on July 11. Notice how "O.P." is not part of Players Weekend festivities.

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Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com

Adam Plutko: "Plutko"

Plutko was added to the Tribe's roster last week and was not able to get his Players Weekend nickname approved in time.

"V original," Plutko tweeted. "But most couldn't tell you my first name anyways."

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Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Jose Ramirez: "ENRIQUITO"

The Tribe's diminutive slugger from the Dominican Republic wanted to use "Mini Me" as his nickname last year, but copyright rules prohibited it, and so -- to the disappointment of some fans -- Ramirez simply wore his last name. This time around, better planning has led to the MVP candidate honoring his father, Enrique, with a Spanish moniker that means "Little Enrique."

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Duane Burleson, AP

Roberto Perez: "BEBO"

Perez's mother gave him the nickname Bebo when he was a child in Puerto Rico.

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Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Neil Ramirez: "RAMMER"

Ramirez obviously won the rights to this nickname by beating Jose Ramirez in a game of MarioKart.

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Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Danny Salazar: "SALLY"

The nickname works on a number of different levels. Like: "Hey, has anybody seen Sally lately?"

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Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Josh Tomlin: "SCRUBS"

I'm sorry, but anybody who doesn't refer to Tomlin as "Cowboy" just isn't trying.