Former Tennessee baseball star Andrew Fischer is playing for Team Italy in next month’s World Baseball Classic. The WBC is an international baseball event typically held every four years in March. This year, there are 20 teams competing in the event.
Fischer was born-and-raised in New Jersey and not Italy but has Italian heritage. The infielder’s great grandparents were Italian immigrants in the early 20th century. It is not a rarity for players born in America to compete for other countries in the event.
In fact, only three players on Italy’s roster were actually born in Italy with the rest hailing from the United States. Other notable players on Italy’s roster include Phillies’ right-handed pitcher Aaron Nola, former Florida two-way star Jac Caglianone as well ad journeymen relieves Michael Lorenzen and Adam Ottavino.
The 20 teams are divided into four pools with each team playing four games and the top two teams from each pool advancing. As part of Pool B, Italy will play its pool play games at Daikin Park in Houston.
Italy faces off against Brazil on March 7, Great Britain on March 8, the United States on March 10 and Mexico on March 11.
More From RTI: Josh Elander Updates Injury Status Of Two Tennessee Baseball Players Ahead Of 2026 Seacon
Fischer is entering his first full professional season in the Milwaukee Brewers organization. He is currently the No. 1 third base prospect in baseball according to both Baseball America and MLB Pipeline.
Fischer transferred to Tennessee ahead of his junior season after playing his freshman season at Duke and his sophomore season at Ole Miss. He is one of the best college hitters in the 2025 draft after slashing .341/.497/.760 during the 2025 season.
The left-handed slugger bashed 25 home runs, 16 doubles and 65 RBIs. Fischer’s 25 home runs mark the second most in a single-season in Tennessee history.
Consistency was Fischer’s greatest strength at Tennessee, he reached base in all 65 games and was stellar in SEC play where he slashed .340/.478/.736 with 11 home runs and 23 RBIs.
Fischer’s bat-to-ball skills marked his biggest improvement from his sophomore to junior seasons. He tied Tennessee’s single-season program record with 63 walks while striking out just 42 times.
The Milwaukee Brewers selected Tennessee infielder Andrew Fischer with the 20th pick in the 2025 MLB Draft where he joined fellow former Tennessee standout Blake Burke.
