The legend of Tommy Tanks has only grown at the 2023 Men’s College World Series.
If you’ve been watching any of the action in Omaha over the last 10 days, you’ve probably heard that name exclaimed by one of the TV commentators, generally following a timely home run.
The moniker belongs to superstar LSU third baseman Tommy White, and its meaning is fairly self-explanatory.
His name is Tommy, and he hits lots and lots of tanks.
White has played the hero for the Tigers in Omaha so far, delivering an extra-innings walk-off home run against Wake Forest to clinch a spot in the national championship series. Two nights later, he hit a game-winning shot over the wall once again as LSU took Game 1 against Florida in 11 innings.
The sophomore first rose to prominence last spring during the MLB lockout when hungry baseball fans tuning into college action first took notice of White — then at North Carolina State — and his signature beard, mullet, sunglasses and chains.
If that weren’t enough, he had a penchant for the long ball. It didn’t take long for the nickname to stick.
The St. Petersburg, Florida, native hit 27 dingers while batting .362 as a true freshman with the Wolfpack. Following the season, he entered the transfer portal and opted to join a star-studded transfer class for LSU, which also featured the possible No. 1 MLB draft pick in right-handed pitcher Paul Skenes.
Tommy Tanks has actually seen his home-run numbers drop a bit with the Tigers as he has just 24 in 2023, but his RBI total has skyrocketed from 74 to 101, a mark that ranks second in Division I. His batting average is even better this year at .370, and he’s hit nearly twice as many doubles as he did in 2022.
LSU will certainly rely on White heavily once again in Monday night’s decisive Game 3 as it looks to bounce back from a historic 24-4 loss to the Gators in Game 2.
