Voting is underway for the best nickname in Minor League Baseball, with fans able to participate until Friday, May 29 at noon Eastern Time.
The contest, called Nickname Knockout, features a bracket of 32 players from across the minor leagues. Fans can vote in five rounds of head-to-head matchups, and each round will contribute points to a player’s overall score. The point value doubles each round, and the player with the most points at the end will be declared the winner.
According to Ben Weinrib, Minor League Baseball is known for its quirks and unique personalities. He said there are more than 6,000 players on 120 full-season teams who have developed memorable nicknames. “Some of them may become the stars of tomorrow’s MLB, while others will remain local fan favorites,” Weinrib said.
Each nominee has a backstory that fans can explore by clicking “Nickname Backstory” next to their image on the voting site. This feature includes videos where players discuss how they got their nicknames as well as additional background information.
Among this year’s nominees are “The Large Mammal” (Nick Merkel), “The Jaguar” (Kevin Alcántara), “Sasquatch” (Boston Bateman), and many others representing various teams throughout Minor League Baseball. The full list is available alongside coverage from MLB Pipeline.
The event highlights how distinctive identities continue to play an important role in minor league culture and fan engagement.
