Mets outfielder Mark Canha has ingratiated himself with his teammates and the fanbase with his scrappy hitting, great defense and his love of food.
But during Sunday night’s matchup against the San Diego Padres, the 33-year-old dropped a bit of a bombshell. The pronunciation of his last name.
"It’s KHAN-YA technically," Canha said when David Cone of the ESPN broadcast asked for the correct pronunciation. "It’s Portuguese, the NH is like the eñe in Spanish."
The eight-year vet was on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball’s Mic’d Up segment where players are wearing a mic during the game and answer questions about themselves. It’s then he went on to explain why he hasn’t corrected anyone and sticks with the way many baseball fans and professionals have come to know him.
"We say CAN-AH because I'm a fourth generation American at this point. I’ve never said KHAN-YA because it feels a little too proper."
It’s not uncommon for athletes, especially baseball players, to correct the mispronunciation of their name especially after a few years in the league, but for those following the newest Met this may come as a shock.
Interestingly enough, after a quick search, Canha actually revealed the proper pronunciation of his last name in a 2014 tweet when he was about to become a full time member of the Oakland A’s.
Again, he explained that he pronounces it CAN-AH but there is a proper Portuguese pronunciation.
The booth or fans starting to change the way they say Canha’s last name is unlikely, especially if the way others have been pronouncing it is his preferred way. But it was any interesting tidbit and something Mets fans can now use in their next trivia night.