What’s In A First Name? A Lot of Letters For These Current Baseball Players

For this season All-Star outfielder Giancarlo Stanton of the Miami Marlins is making a million dollars for each letter of his first name, and that is the least he will make for the next ten years. According to his current multi-year contract, starting in 2022 the team’s Most Valuable Player will be making more than double the number of letters in his first name and last name combined.

That is good news for him, especially since he has one of the longest first names in the game. Those nine letters are twice as many as the average first name of baseball players, which is four and a half.

That is the percentage you get when you average in short names such as Jay, Ian, Dan, or Ron with longer ones like Brandon, Michael, Anthony and Charles. Players like Socrates Brito of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Starling Marte of the Pittsburgh Pirates, both with eight letters, certainly up the average.

Here is a list of current Major Leaguers whose first names have even more than eight letters, in addition to the aforementioned Giancarlo Stanton.

Wellington Castillo of the Arizona Diamondbacks

The veteran catcher is having a fine year in 2016, living up to the beginning syllable of his first name.

Andrelton Simmons of the Los Angeles Angels

After a noteworthy trade from Atlanta over the winter, the Gold Glove shortstop continues to be a human vacuum in the middle of the infield.

Christian Yellich of the Miami Marlins

Giancarlo’s teammate plays right next to him in center field, where he has helped keep his team in the pennant race.

Odrisamer Despainge of the Baltimore Orioles

He has pitched just briefly for manager Buck Schowalter, who once again has his team in the thick of the playoff chase.

Francisco Lindor of the Cleveland Indians

You could also put Toronto pitcher Liriano here or Pittsburgh catcher Cervelli, but this young shortstop is probably the best of the three All-Stars.

Adalberto Mejia of the Minnesota Twins

The young reliever is not the first Mejia to reach the big leagues, but he is no doubt the first Adalberto to make it.

Jurickson Profar of the Texas Rangers

Part of the reason the club has sported the best record in the American League is this young and versatile infielder.

Arquimedes Caminero of the Seattle Mariners

His time on the mound has been limited, unlike the almost infinite number of letters in his name.

Arismendy Alcantara of the Oakland Athletics

This utility man has seen time at nearly every position on the diamond, and it seems quite appropriate that he plays for a team affectionately called the A’s.

Yongervis Solarte of the San Diego Padres

With fifteen home runs and a.284 batting average, the third baseman has become the anchor of the team’s lineup.

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