Joey Beets? Jays legend Jose Bautista ‘weirded out’ after insect named after him

Article content

Just call him Joey Beets.

Article content

Actually, you had better not.

Article content

Toronto Blue Jays legend Jose Bautista seems both honoured and confused about a beetle being named after him.

The six-time all-star, who led Major League Baseball in home runs twice while with Toronto, says he’s “weirded out” by the bug being his namesake.

“I was kind of shocked. I’m honoured and weirded-out at the same time,” Bautista told The U.S. Sun.

Canadian entomologist Bob Anderson had named a new species of beetle after Bautista in 2018. Anderson called it “Sicoderus bautistai” in an homage to the slugger who helped the Blue Jays return to the playoffs after a long absence and is known for his famous bat flip after a home run against the Texas Rangers.

“It was a complete weird mix of emotions. I never knew that that’s how these things go,” Bautista said.

Article content

“When a scientist discovers whatever they discover, they get the rights to name it and for some reason this gentleman picked my name.  That’s an honour in some way, the fact it’s a beetle is kind of weird.

“I guess my name will be etched in the science books for a long time so it’s kind of cool.”

The beetle with the long snout is known as a weevil and is from the Dominican Republic, just like Bautista.

The Sun noted Anderson, who works at the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa, has named about 120 weevils over his 30-year career.

Anderson told ESPN he chose Bautista to name this one after because of the bat-flip home run.

RECOMMENDED VIDEO

Share this article in your social network