Former Tennessee slugger Andrew Fischer just turned the clock back to 1974 with an incredible accomplishment
The VFL is having an incredible year in the minor leagues.
Former Tennessee Volunteers first baseman Andrew Fischer turned in a historic Thursday night at the ballpark. He became the first Milwaukee Brewers minor league player since 1974 to reach 40 home runs in a season.
Fischer clubbed his 40th, 41st, and 42nd home runs of the year for the Biloxi Shuckers, tying the franchise record of 3 home runs in a single game.
The single-game home run record he tied belongs to another very familiar name for Vol fans. Former Tennessee first baseman Blake Burke, who also played for the Biloxi Shuckers this year before earning a promotion to AAA Nashville, previously set the mark this season. Burke also set the single-season Biloxi record with 30 home runs this year.
Two of Tennessee’s biggest home run hitters in recent memory now occupy the same spot in the record books, and the Brewers organization appears to have a bright future because of it.
Fischer’s momentum traces back to the World Baseball Classic
Fischer first jumped onto the professional scene back in February during the World Baseball Classic, where he represented Team Italy and played a significant role in helping them reach the event’s semifinals. That momentum has carried over into his first full year of minor league baseball in the Brewers organization, culminating in Thursday’s historic performance.
Fischer’s power has translated very well to the double-A level since coming up from high-A earlier this year. He hit 20 home runs in 191 plate appearances in A+ and has now hit 22 in 205 plate appearances at AA.
2 former Vols could force Milwaukee’s hand sooner than later
Burke and Fischer have both mashed their way through the Brewers’ system this season, and at the rate they’re going, it’s going to be impossible to keep one or both of them from the big league club in the very near future. When Burke and Fischer both end up in Milwaukee, Brewers baseball will become must-watch TV for Tennessee fans.
The production speaks for itself. The Brewers have two power hitting ex-Vols knocking loudly on the door, and Thursday night was just the latest reminder of just how much firepower is waiting in that pipeline.
