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Don't call him B.J. anymore: Melvin Upton Jr. explains name change

Mike Oz

When word trickled out Sunday that B.J. Upton had decided to play this season as Melvin Upton Jr., his given name, the obvious assumption was an attempt at reinvention.

Upton has struggled mightily the past two seasons since signing a five-year, $72.25 million contract with the Atlanta Braves. He hit .208 last season and .184 in 2013. Frankly, reinvention seems like a necessity. But that's not what the name change is about, according to Upton, 30, who reported to Braves spring training camp early and addressed the issue Monday.

(AP)
(AP)

He told reporters, including Mark Bowman of MLB.com:

"This has nothing to do with starting a new chapter," Upton said. "I just wanted to. My father thought enough to give me his name, so why not?"

Though the baseball world has recognized him as B.J. dating back to the days before he was the second overall selection in the 2002 First-Year Player Draft, Upton said many of his friends and family members have often referred to him by the birth name -- Melvin -- that he shares with his father.

"It was the name that was given to me as a kid," Upton said. "So I felt I wanted to go by my real name."

B.J. was short for Bossman Junior, a nickname that the elder Upton son picked up from his dad, the original Bossman. Dad's name is Melvin Emmanuel Upton, though as first names go, he went by Manny and not Melvin.

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The outfielder formerly known as B.J. Upton says he consulted with family before announcing the decision — including his younger brother Justin Upton, traded recently from the Braves to the San Diego Padres. Only baseball people called him by the Bossman Junior abbreviation, Upton decided, so it was time for a change:

"Most of my friends call me Mel or Melvin," Upton said. "Nobody really calls me B.J., except at the stadium" ...

"Call me what you want, it doesn't matter to me," Upton said. "Obviously, the people I've known my whole life and the people I've grown to know, I don't care [which name they use]. But for the general public, my real name is Melvin and that is [how] I want to be referred to."

Braves fans will tell you they don't care what Upton wants to be called. He could call himself Chipper Upton, if it meant he would start hitting.

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Mike Oz is an editor for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at mikeozstew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!