MILWAUKEE BREWERS

The five best nicknames employed by Brewers players on 'Players Weekend' uniforms

JR Radcliffe
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The Brewers aren't sure how long catcher Stephen Vogt will be sidelined with a strained right shoulder, but he won't be released and instead will open the season on the disabled list.

For the second straight year, "Players Weekend" will enable Major League Baseball players to wear bright-colored jerseys with their self-selected nicknames on the back in lieu of traditional surnames.

Running Aug. 24-26, the Brewers will be at home against the Pirates this year. Last year, the team was on the road facing the Dodgers for the same celebration.

Many players opt for standard shortenings of their names -- Albie, Burnesy, Yeli and Lo Cain will be pretty easy to identify. But here are the five best nicknames from others on the list.

1. Zach Davies: 'Couns'

Craig Counsell and Zach Davies are both a tad older than they appear.

The baby-faced starting pitcher opts to use the nickname typically reserved for his baby-faced manager, Craig Counsell. You'd be forgiven for confusing the two, even if 22 years (!!) separates them. 

2. Eric Thames: 'Mr. Tee'

We pity the fool who puts a pitch on a tee for Thames to eviscerate. Is it fair to ask who would win in a boxing match: Thames or Clubber Lang? Both are equally jacked.

3. Travis Shaw: 'Mayor-DDC' 

Brewers third baseman Travis Shaw hits a grand slam home run in the first inning.

It's still one of the best nicknames in baseball, even if it's a bit strange (and too wordy to fit on the back of the jersey). The Mayor of Ding Dong City has ruled with an iron fist lately, going 8 for 16 in his past five games with three homers.

RELATED:Where did Travis Shaw's ‘Mayor of Ding Dong City’ nickname come from, anyway?

4. Jhoulys Chacin: 'La Makina' 

Brewers pitcher Jhoulys Chacin.

Chacin, who happens to be one of the team leaders in strikeouts, uses the Spanish for "the machine" but spells it with a K instead of "maquina." Well played.

5. Stephen Vogt: 'I Believe'

Vogt has been sidelined all year by injury, but he's still one of the top clubhouse guys on the team. 'I Believe' is a reference to the chant that began in Oakland during his playing days there -- the repeatable "I believe in Stephen Vogt!" -- and continued in Milwaukee when the club claimed him off waivers last June.

RELATED:Notes: Catcher Stephen Vogt suffers career-threatening shoulder injury while on rehab

Special mention to another player lost for the year, Brent Suter, whose choice of "The Raptor" is a nod to his unusual gait. 

RELATED:Pitcher Brent Suter is a Brewers favorite for many reasons

RELATED:Clash at Coors Field: Milwaukee 'Raptor' takes on a purple triceratops

The full list of nicknames

Jesus Aguilar: El Causa; Matt Albers: Albie; Chase Anderson: Texas; Orlando Arcia: El Nino; Jacob Barnes: King Cobra; Ryan Braun: Ocho; Corbin Burnes: Burnesy; Lorenzo Cain: Lo Cain; Jhoulys Chacin: La Makina; Zach Davies: Couns; Nick Franklin: Nicky; Junior Guerra: Cabezon; Josh Hader: Stricken; Jeremy Jeffress: Jota Jota; Dan Jennings: DJ; Corey Knebel: Bird Dog; Erik Kratz: Kratzy; Jordan Lyles: Jordy; Wade Miley: Miles; Mike Moustakas: Moose; Jimmy Nelson: Big Sweat; Freddy Peralta: Kaciki; Hernan Perez: Pepper; Manny Pina: Pineapple; Jonathan Schoop: Mama; Travis Shaw: Mayor-DDC; Joakim Soria: Junior; Brent Suter: The Raptor; Eric Thames: Mr. Tee; Stephen Vogt: I Believe; Taylor Williams: T. Willy; Christian Yelich: Yeli.