Blake Burke, a former Vanderbilt University baseball star, has been promoted to the Triple‑A Nashville Sounds by the Milwaukee Brewers, marking a homecoming for the Tennessee native. The move follows a dominant two‑year stretch with the Double‑A Biloxi Shuckers, where he topped the Southern League in batting average, home runs, RBIs and doubles.
During the 2024 campaign Burke hit .285 with 30 homers, 88 RBIs and 30 doubles, while also stealing 28 bases and earning Southern League Player of the Month honors in July. His 20 home runs and 61 RBIs in the final stretch of the season placed him second in Tennessee history for career homers, trailing only Christian Moore.
The Sounds’ next challenge will be a six‑game home stand against the Indianapolis Indians from August 11‑16, a series that is expected to draw a crowd of Vols fans still wearing orange and white in tribute to Burke’s college roots. The promotion was greeted with cheers as he was introduced alongside fellow Brewers prospect Andrew Fischer, both receiving standing ovations from the assembled supporters.
Reunion on the mound
Joining Burke on the Nashville roster is pitcher Garrett Stallings, a former University of Tennessee arm who made his major‑league debut earlier this year. Stallings’ collegiate career spanned 2017‑2019, and his ascent to the big leagues adds another layer of familiarity to the Sounds’ pitching staff.
The promotion underscores a broader narrative of Tennessee talent thriving within the Brewers’ system, a storyline that resonates with the state’s rich baseball heritage. With Burke’s blend of power, speed and clutch hitting, the Sounds look to capitalize on a surge of local interest that has been building since the 2024 national championship run.