B.J. Upton No More: Baseball Player Is Using a Different Name
The Braves outfielder isn't the first player to request a name change.
— -- Don't call him B.J. Upton anymore.
The Atlanta Braves outfielder wants to be identified by his birth name, Melvin Upton Jr., MLB.com reported. The name change comes after Upton slumped to career-worst seasons in 2013 and 2014.
B.J. is short for Bossman Junior, referencing his father’s nickname.
The Norfolk, Virginia native, 30, is entering the third year of a five-year, $75 million deal with Atlanta, the biggest free-agent contract in Braves history. He struggled in his first two seasons with the Braves, batting .198 with 21 home runs.
Upton isn’t the first Major League Baseball player to request a name change during his career, and the reasons for the changes vary.
Giancarlo Stanton
The Marlins superstar, who signed a $325 million contract during the offseason, decided in 2012 that he preferred to be called Giancarlo, his actual first name, instead of Mike, as he was identified his first two seasons.
Kendrys Morales
When Kendrys Morales signed with the Angels in 2004, he told team officials he wanted to be identified as “Kendry,” without the “S.” But by 2011, Morales decided to return to identifying himself as Kendrys, his actual birth name.
Edinson Volquez
Pitcher Edinson Volquez, a native of the Dominican Republic, was identified as “Edison” early in his career, but the spelling was later adjusted after he noticed an “N” on his birth certificate.
Albert Belle
Belle made his debut in 1989 as Joey, but after attending a treatment center for alcoholism, he started going by Albert, his given name. He explained the name change in a 1991 interview with ESPN’s “Up Close.”
“I wanted everyone to know I was serious about making tremendous changes in my life,” he said at the time.
Belle went on to hit 381 career home runs and was one of the most feared sluggers of the 1990s.
Jose Uribe
Jose Uribe made the majors in 1984 under his real name, Jose Gonzalez -- but because Gonzalez was so common, he decided to be identified by his mother’s family name, Uribe. Amid the name change, he was traded to the San Francisco Giants, leading then-Giants coach Rocky Bridges to call him “the ultimate player to be named later.” Uribe played in the major leagues until 1993.
Guillermo Hernandez
Guillermo Hernandez, a Puerto Rico native, reached the big leagues in 1977 and forged a successful career for himself under the Anglicized name of Willie. His finest season came in 1984, when he saved 32 games -- winning the Cy Young Award and the American League Most Valuable Player Award as he helped the Tigers to the World Series title. But by 1988 Hernandez was looking for a change.
"Guillermo is my real name," Hernandez said at the time. "I want to use it."
He continued to pitch through the 1989 season under the name Guillermo Hernandez before calling it a career.
Dick Allen
A Phillies standout during the 1960s, Richard Anthony Allen was initially identified as “Richie” -- but he didn’t embrace the nickname, preferring to be called “Dick” or “Rich.” Under any name, Allen was one of the most powerful hitters of his era, falling one vote short of election on the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s “Golden Era” ballot in 2014.
ESPN.com contributed to this report.
