This might be the best name in all of baseball. Left-handed reliever Richard Lovelady has an unusual request after signing a one-year deal with the New York Mets on Monday: he wants to go by his nickname, Dicky.

“For those asking, yes, new Mets reliever Richard Lovelady has requested to go by his nickname Dicky. So it will be Dicky Lovelady from here on out,” MLB.com Mets insider Anthony DiComo posted to X. “(For posterity, Lovelady will continue to be referred to as Richard in print, on the scoreboard, etc. But he wants his teammates, fans, staffers, etc. to call him Dicky.)”

The 29-year-old, six-year veteran struggled early this season with the Toronto Blue Jays, posting a 21.60 ERA in two appearances before being designated for assignment. After being granted free agency, he pitched for the Minnesota Twins’ Triple-A affiliate in St. Paul, where he found his form.

In 19 games with St. Paul, Lovelady went 0-1 with a 1.31 ERA, striking out 22 batters while walking seven across 20 1/3 innings. The Twins released him last week, opening the door for the Mets to sign him.

Lovelady, a Kennesaw State University product, was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 10th round of the 2016 MLB Draft. He has pitched for five major league teams: the Royals, Oakland Athletics, Chicago Cubs, Tampa Bay Rays and Blue Jays.

In 110 career games, he carries a 5.26 ERA with a 4.32 FIP and 1.347 WHIP. His strength lies in his effectiveness against left-handed hitters, holding them to a .232 batting average.

By Matt Higgins
Matt Higgins worked in national and local news for 15 years. He started out as an overnight production assistant ... More about Matt Higgins
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