MLBbro.com covered Black and brown players for 162 games and the playoffs in 2021. Some of these MLBbros have performed with a passion and power that has earned them nicknames that immediately identify them to the MLB community.
According to Google, “A nickname is a substitute for the proper name of a familiar person, place or thing. Commonly used to express affection, a form of endearment, and sometimes amusement…”
Malik Wright is here with the #HIGH5 MLBbro Nicknames For 2021
Brandon Carr brings you MLBbro.com’s Top 5 Black players 25 and younger in MLB. Get familiar with these soul patrollers, diamond miners and melananated mound marauders.
This week Andrew McCutchen was vibing like he did during his 2013 National League MVP season.
He terrorized the Washington Nationals by hitting three home runs on three consecutive game days including a walk-off three run game winning shot in Monday’s game.
For that, he earns the top spot on our Week 16 MLBbro #HighFive list.
1. Andrew McCutchen
“Cutch” was up with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning with two ducks on the pond during Monday night’s game against the National. The vet came through in one of the biggest moments of the Phillies season, deciding to call “game” by hitting a walk-off home run over the right field fence.
This week is no anomaly, as Andrew McCutchen has been on a redemption tour this entire season.
The former National League MVP and five-time All-Star hit his 20th home run of the season during Thursday’s double-header (which already equals his total for both 2019 and 2020 combined).
With two months left in the season, he also has a chance of reaching the 30-homer plateau for the second time in his career. The other being in 2012.
LaMonte Wade Jr. impacted one of the biggest rivalries in all of baseball when his first-place San Francisco Giants met the Dodgers, earning him his first appearance on our #HighFive list this season.
BADDOO MANIA is back as he has officially begun campaigning for the American League Rookie of the Year award.
Baddoo is the only person to reappear on our list from Week 15. He homered three times this week including a solo shot during his 2-for-5 day at the plate on Tuesday.
Baddoo and his Tigers will take on Cedric “CM Storm” Mullins and the Baltimore Orioles in a four game set this weekend..
4. George Springer
George Springer has recovered from the bumps and bruises that impeded the first half of his season and is tearing the cover off of baseballs, as well as being one of the more elite defensive outfielders in the game.
He was recently named as Rob Parker’s Home Boi Highlight.
This past Saturday night, Springer made one of the best catches you will ever see when he did a lit Jumpman impression by diving for a catch in center field.
This weekend Springer will get another chance to play in front of a Canadian audience during Toronto’s series against the Kansas City Royals.
5. Cedric Mullins
Mullins’ first half All-Star nod was not a fluke as he’s still among MLB’s best hitters.
Mullins hit home run number 17 during Tuesday’s game against the Miami Marlins and has also climbed to sixth place MLB’s batting title chase.
Mullins also leads MLB outfielders with a 4.1 WAR and is leading all American League outfielders in hits, OPS and is tied for the lead in triples and doubles.
The Detroit Tigers have sent utility player Niko Goodrum to the Injury List Saturday after his hematoma started bleeding.
The initial injury occurred July 10 when Goodrum fouled a pitch off his lower extremities in the seventh inning matchup against the Minnesota Twins.
Although he is down and out, some minor nicks and bruises didn’t stop the newly found tradition as the infielder/outfielder is a man of the people.
For the third time in the past four years, Goodrum joined forces with the Asbury United Methodist Church in Flint, Michigan, where he donated 275 cases of water to the residents who are still without clean water.
Partnering with the United Way of Genesee County, the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, and the Detroit Tigers Foundation, Goodrum’s, “do GOOD things,” foundation started in June of 2020 before the pandemic shortened season as he and the league had a lot of time on their hands.
“I’ve been giving water back to Flint for two years now, dating back, this is my third year doing it,” said Goodrum to Detroit Tigers TV.
He said, “That sparked the idea of, let me get something going where people can donate to me if they want to contribute. I was getting checks from random people to the stadium. I talked to Jordan Field (Director, Player Relations & Detroit Tigers Foundation), and I was like, ‘what do I do with this money?’ and that’s how the foundation came about.
“When there is a need, when there is something, I can do in Detroit and Flint or back home in Georgia, whenever I see a need, I always want to give back. It is very important to me as my parents instilled in me at an early age to give back to people, and that is what we are here for, to give back to people.”
Teammate “Real Deal” Akil Baddoo was also at the giveaway, passing out clean cases of water. He chimed in on his experience and said, “this is what it’s all about. I play this game for the families like this, the unfortunate, and come out here and see the smiles on their faces and the joy we bring. That’s what it’s all about.”
The church, which serves about 300 members, gives out cases of bottled water every Tuesday since the inception of the Flint Water Crisis came into effect in 2014.
The event, which runs like your favorite fast-food chain, gives insurance that those of the community in need will have safe and clean drinking water.
Goodrum has proven to be more than an athlete. The people affected most will remember his humanitarian work long after his baseball career comes to an end.
Now it’s time for Goodrum to return to the field better than he was before and help fellow MLBbros, Baddoo and Daz Camron, make a possible playoff push down the stretch.
Detroit Tigers rookie Akil Baddoo started the season like a man possessed at the plate, launching homers left and right and captivating MLB fans with his five-tool potential.
Then his bat went flat, but he stayed grinding and has lifted himself back into the American League ROY conversation.
Rachel Hill gives her take on the situation on First To Third.
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