Former Tennessee baseball star Blake Burke is back in Knoxville this week, facing the Smokies in his first week with the Biloxi Shuckers.
Back in Knoxville, Burke is still mashing baseballs. The first baseman hit his first AA home run in the first inning of the Shuckers’ 4-2 win over the Smokies on Saturday night. Burke took a hanging 0-1 breaking ball and hammered it over the right field wall for a two-run homer.
BLAKE BURKE.
IN KNOXVILLE.
HIS FIRST DOUBLE-A HOME RUN.#ShuckYeah #ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/6CLufP9BkM— Biloxi Shuckers (@BiloxiShuckers) August 9, 2025
Burke is in his first week with Biloxi after bering called up from High-A Wisconsin last weekend. In seven games with the Shuckers, Burke is hitting seven-for-23 (.304) with five walks, a home run, two doubles and six RBIs. It’s a strong start in AA for a former Tennessee star that was producing at a consistent level in High-A.
In 95 games with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers this season, Burke slashed .289/.380/.396 with five home runs, 21 doubles, two triples and 48 RBIs.
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Burke was a three-year contributor at Tennessee, splitting playing time as the designated hitter in his freshman season before starting at first base in both his sophomore and junior seasons. The left-handed slugger finished his career with 50 home runs, second to only Christian Moore for the most in the history of the Vols’ program.
While Burke hit 14-plus home runs in all three seasons at Tennessee, he took major steps forward at the plate in his junior season in Knoxville. Burke led the Vols with a .379 batting average tied the single-season program record with 30 doubles to go along with 20 home runs in 61 RBIs hitting in the two-hole. Burke’s incredible .379/.449/.702 slash line showed what a high level and balanced hitter he became.
The Milwaukee Brewers selected Burke with the 34th pick in the 2024 MLB Draft after Burke concluded his standout career in Knoxville.
