Baseball has always been a sport filled with tradition, superstition, and some absolutely ridiculous nicknames. From food references to animal antics, players have picked up monikers that range from oddly charming to downright goofy.
Some of these names are the kind you hear once and never forget—mostly because they make zero sense. So let’s tip our caps to the weird, the wild, and the wonderfully silly with the 10 silliest MLB player nicknames of all time.
10. El Caballo (Carlos Lee)
It sounds cool until you realize it just means “The Horse.” Nothing says speed and power quite like… a barnyard animal.
9. Kung Fu Panda (Pablo Sandoval)
It’s cute, it’s catchy, and it’s completely ridiculous. You can thank a mid-game tumble and some serious agility for this animated nickname.
8. Human Rain Delay (Mike Hargrove)
It’s not exactly a compliment, but it was definitely unforgettable. If your nickname sounds like a weather alert, you know you’re moving at your own pace.
7. Tony Plush (Nyjer Morgan)
It’s not a person—it’s an alter ego. This nickname somehow makes a baseball player sound like a fancy couch cushion.
6. The Flying Squirrel (Jeff McNeil)
Picture a speedy infielder leaping through the air, and now add a woodland creature to the mix. It’s strangely accurate and incredibly silly.
5. Oil Can (Dennis Boyd)
This one has nothing to do with baseball and everything to do with a favorite beverage. It’s old-school, it’s weird, and it’s somehow stuck around for decades.
4. The Big Donkey (Adam Dunn)
Power hitter? Absolutely. Graceful nickname? Not even a little bit.
3. The Red Rooster (Doug Rader)
With a name like that, you’d expect someone loud, proud, and maybe a little bit feathery. It’s less about baseball and more about barnyard flair.
Read More: The 20 Best NFL Nicknames of All Time, Ranked
2. Spaceman (Bill Lee)
Some players are grounded in fundamentals—this guy was floating in the cosmos. The nickname speaks for itself, and honestly, we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Read More: The 15 Greatest Nicknames in MLB History
1. The Incredible Hulk (Brian Downing)
Yes, he hit bombs, but did he actually turn green when angry? Probably not—but that didn’t stop fans from leaning into the comic book chaos.
Read More: Ranking the 15 Funniest MLB Nicknames of All Time
