Former Tennessee baseball standouts Blake Burke and Andrew Fischer returned to Knoxville with the Biloxi Shuckers for a six-game series against the Smokies last week at Covenant Health Park.
The Shuckers and Smokies split the six-game set after Biloxi won the final two games of the series on Saturday and Sunday. How did the pair of former Vols perform in their return to East Tennessee?
Burke hit 3-for-20 in the six games but reached base on balls five times. All three of Burke’s hits went for extra bases including a pair of doubles and a home run in Sunday’s series finale. Somewhat surprisingly, Burke also stole three bases in the six-game series.
The first baseman reached both 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases on the season during his week in Knoxville, becoming just the third Shuckers player to ever reach both marks.
Fischer hit 5-for-21 in the series while reaching base on balls four times. Four of Fischer’s five hits went for extra-bases including a pair of doubles, a triple and a home run. Fischer was also hit-by a pitch, drove in a pair of runs and stole two bases.
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Burke is in the midst of a strong second professional season. After spending part of the 2025 season in High-A Wisconsin and Double-A Biloxi, Burke has spent the entirety of this season with the Shuckers.
The first baseman has turned in a strong season to date, slashing .260/.342/.549 with 20 home runs, 19 doubles, two triples and 64 RBIs in 75 games played. While Burke’s on-base percentage is slightly down compared to last season, it’s still a solid mark while he continues to slug at a high level with both home runs and doubles.
Fischer has been one of the best players in Minor League Baseball this season, spending most of his year in High-A Wisconsin before getting the call up to Biloxi earlier in the summer.
Now in 22 games in Double-A, Fischer is slashing .274/.424/.753 with nine home runs, four doubles and two triples. He’s also driven in 16 runs and reached base on balls 17 times.
Fischer has played in 76 total games this season between High-A and Double-A where he’s slashing .292/.438/.697 with 29 home runs, 14 doubles and 66 RBIs. He is currently on pace to hit 61 home runs over the 162 game season.
