A Fresh Start in the Southern League
Blake Burke and Andrew Fischer, two of the most celebrated recent graduates of the University of Tennessee baseball program, have taken their talents to the Biloxi Shuckers, the Double‑A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers, and they did so in front of a home crowd in Knoxville that seemed eager to welcome them back.
Burke, the Milwaukee Brewers' first‑round pick in 2024, opened the season by leading the Southern League with 19 home runs, while Fischer, drafted a year later, has already hit eight homers in his first 16 Double‑A appearances after a 25‑home‑run season for the Vols.
In their very first game together, the duo launched back‑to‑back home runs, a moment that sparked enthusiastic ovations from the local fans and gave the Shuckers an early jolt of energy.
Both players took the opportunity to connect with current Tennessee teammates before the game, sharing memories of their college days and reinforcing the sense of continuity that has resonated throughout the Knoxville baseball community.
For the Brewers, the rapid rise of Burke and Fischer underscores the effectiveness of their player‑development pipeline, showing that investments in collegiate talent can yield immediate impact at the Double‑A level.