There’s something about Blake Burke hitting in Knoxville. The former Tennessee baseball star returned to town this past week with the Biloxi Shuckers to face off against the Knoxville Smokies. In the final game of the set, Burke lifted a home run to make history.
The shot was his 20th of the season, marking just the third 20-home-run and 20-steal season in Shuckers franchise history. He is the first double-A player to reach the mark this year and the third at any level of minor league baseball. Burke is also the first to do it for the Shuckers since Jackson Chourio (2023).
After starting the six-game series 0-for-11 at the plate through three games, Burke found his rhythm. Over the final three games, he went 3-for-9 with two doubles, a home run, a walk, three RBI and a run. He stole three bases in the series, but each was in the first three games.
The 3rd 20/20 season in franchise history belongs to Blake Burke!
📻 https://t.co/LIZcF8bIA9
📺 @bally__sports, https://t.co/5dYqzkzNIs#ShuckYeah #ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/CUykuKqspH— Biloxi Shuckers (@BiloxiShuckers) July 12, 2026
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Burke wasn’t the only former Vol in Knoxville this past week, either. He is teammates with Andrew Fischer, who took over at first base for UT in 2025 after Burke left for the draft. Fischer finished the set 5-for-21 with two doubles, a triple, three walks, a hit-by-pitch, two RBI, three runs and two steals.
In college, Burke proved to be one of the best power bats in the country over his three seasons on Rocky Top. His storied career concluded with a national championship in 2024 as a critical bat in the Vols’ order. He hit for a .379 average with 20 home runs, 61 RBI, 74 runs and 11 stolen bases.
Burke would be selected by the Milwaukee Brewers with the 34th overall selection in the first round of the 2024 MLB Draft. He has climbed his way to the Double-A level within the organization in his second full season of professional baseball.
