Max Scherzer may have picked up a nickname inside the Blue Jays’ clubhouse that plenty of fans never saw coming.
The clue showed up after Sunday’s game, when catcher Brandon Valenzuela’s wristband drew attention from fans who spotted something unusual where a pitcher’s name would normally be listed. Instead, it appeared to read “Pee Paw.”
Scherzer’s start itself already felt like a moment. He took the mound Sunday in what many believe could be the final appearance of his career, and he made it count: seven innings, one earned run, and a 5-1 Blue Jays win. For a 42-year-old pitcher who has long gone by “Mad Max,” it was a fitting ending if that truly was the last chapter.
The wristband detail quickly set off a reaction online. One fan posted, “omfg does vali’s card for max say peepaw 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/MgQlnpVyaP”
Another added, “PEE PAW😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/KdVP0XZsJO”
A catcher’s wristband is basically a cheat sheet, packed with scouting notes and hitter tendencies. But Valenzuela’s stood out because it seemed to list the nickname “Pee Paw” in the spot where Scherzer’s name would usually go.
That name has already been floating around among some Blue Jays fans this season, a nod to Scherzer being one of the oldest players in the MLB. Those same fans have also recently been calling George Springer “Unc Springer.”
The online reaction made it clear the fan base caught on quickly. “I’m dead,” one person wrote after seeing the wristband. “They’ve heard the fans.”
“I’M DEAD THERE’S NO WAY,” another said.
Toronto’s season ended Sunday night when the Blue Jays missed the playoffs and finished 79-83. The team is set to hold its end-of-season media availabilities on Wednesday, which could offer a little more clarity on whether “Pee Paw” is now part of Scherzer’s Blue Jays identity.
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