‘Tommy Tanks’ enters MiLB Nickname Knockout voting

Minor League Baseball thrives on personality, and few nicknames fit better than “Tommy Tanks.”

Las Vegas Aviators third baseman Tommy White is one of 32 nominees in Minor League Baseball’s Nickname Knockout, a fan-driven bracket designed to crown the best moniker in the minors. Voting runs through May 29 at noon ET, with five head-to-head rounds determining the winner.

The name has followed White for years.

“My nickname is Tommy Tanks,” White said. “It just came about, and I don’t mind it.”

From Three Homers to a Lasting Identity

White earned the moniker in unforgettable fashion. In his first college game at NC State, he launched three home runs — three “Tommy Tanks” — and the name stuck immediately. It has followed him through every stop since.

Now it has a chance to become Minor League Baseball’s best nickname.

From Spring Buzz to Triple-A Production

White became a fan favorite this spring after earning a non-roster invitation to Athletics camp in January. A 2024 second-round pick (No. 40 overall) out of Louisiana State, White arrived with a reputation for power, and his batting practice displays and easygoing personality quickly resonated with both A’s and Aviators fans.

Promoted to Triple-A Las Vegas on April 27, White has continued to produce. Through 16 games, he is hitting .333 with a .351 on-base percentage and a .514 slugging percentage. He has five doubles, two home runs and 14 RBIs in 72 at-bats, good for an .865 OPS.

Across two levels in 2026, White is batting .316 with 31 RBIs in 37 games, reinforcing the power profile that made him a top-40 overall selection.