Aaron Hicks chose A-A Ron for his Players Weekend nickname, a reference to a classic Key & Peele sketch that is a favorite to many a millennial.
Aaron Hicks is thankful for his ‘Key & Peele’-inspired Players Weekend nickname
Keegan-Michael Key had a special message for Hicks before the weekend kicked off.
@MLB/Instagram
He’s not the only one to choose that as his nickname for the next few days, Aaron Altherr also went with that on the back of his jersey. But he is the only one thankful for the introduction of this nickname into the pop culture lexicon.
According to the New York Post, he used to have a terrible nickname (which he won’t disclose.
“My nickname growing up, I don’t like being called it. As soon as that skit came out, I was instantly called that. Teammates, fans. When I go up to the plate, everybody’s saying, ‘Let’s go, A-A Ron!’ I thought it would be kind of a funny thing to have A-A Ron as my nickname. I’m still enjoying it now.”
He loves the show too, for more reasons besides the fact that it apparently rescued him from a really bad nickname.
“I thought that their skits and that whole show was hilarious. I think that was one of the main reasons I wanted to have that as my nickname.”
If part of MLB’s motivation for Players Weekend was to cater to younger audiences and inject some fun into the proceedings, then this is one of the best examples of that working.
Nickname originator Keegan-Michael Key even sent Hicks a special message before things kicked off for the weekend — a little “good luck” video in the form of quotes from the sketch and a reference to the Yankees breaking from tradition.
That’s quite the ringing endorsement for Hicks to be wearing the nickname! Good job A-A Ron.
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