Burly Blue Jays Prospect is Known as the ‘Iowa Meat Truck’

The state of Iowa might have a new homegrown hero in Major League Baseball. Not only is he an instantly likable presence, he comes equipped with a memorable nickname.

Per MLB.com, you can spot Peyton Williams "from five fields away." He's a 25-year-old Iowa native and first baseman in the Toronto Blue Jays' farm system. This season, he has played for the Jays' Double-A affiliate, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.

He just had his defining career moment last night.

Last night, the 6-foot-5, 225-pound Williams was a hero for New Hampshire. He drilled a walk-off home run to give New Hampshire the win over the Harrisburg Senators. Even better? His nickname.

They Call Him the "Iowa Meat Truck:"

Teammates call Peyton Williams the "Iowa Meat Truck." What a moniker. He's so stocky that when he holds a baseball, it looks like a kids' bat. The Des Moines, IA native has fans on the eastern seaboard of the United States, but his nickname goes beyond his hulking, burly status.

Back in Des Moines, Williams' neighbor owns a business called the Iowa Meat Truck, which sells and delivers premium meats to customers. The neighbor gave Williams a shirt promoting the company. Williams, who is the Blue Jays' #29 prospect, wore it, and it caught on immediately with coaches and players.

Williams Even Has His Own Celebration:

Is that all? Nope. Williams has his own celebration when he gets a hit. Whether it's a double or a homer, Williams imitates the act of honking a car horn. The crowd goes nuts. He is what a fan-favorite player is made of.

The Blue Jays are high on Peyton Williams because he's a batter they believe they can develop. MLB.com notes his path to the majors is "narrower than a shortstop or a center fielder" (Williams is a first baseman), he's lefty who has a proclivity for crushing balls thrown by right-handed pitchers. He's also worked on his defense, which has helped his odds too.

The exit velocities have always been there, but he wants to be a hitter first. If you watch some of those games last year with the game on the line or big spots, he’ll just take an outside pitch and flip it through the six hole to win a ball game - Toronto Blue Jays Director of Player Development Joe Sclafani, per MLB.com

Williams is Learning Not to Run Too Hot in the Moment:

In 87 games last season, spending most of the time in High-A Vancouver, Williams put together an impressive resume: he hit .288 with 11 homers. He's only 25-years-old too, so the development can continue if he stays focused. Williams, a University of Iowa graduate, admitted he had to rein in some of the emotion he once proudly displayed:

At one point, I was the guy who would get super pissed. If it got really bad, there may have been one bat that got broken on the ground. After that one happened? I hit a moment where I was like, ‘I can’t be doing this too much. I’ve got to figure something out.’ After that, I got a lot better at giving myself a few seconds to be upset, but then it’s time to move on - Peyton Williams, per MLB.com

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A Future Hometown Hero in the Majors?:

Whether it's Brock Purdy or Caitlin Clark, Iowa loves a talent with a deep connection to the state. Peyton Williams is poised to be that, and after a viral moment for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, one can't help but wonder if we'll see him in the Jays' starting lineup as the long MLB season continues.

Read more about Peyton Williams on MLB.com. View his baseball stats on MILB.com.