Former Tennessee left-handed sluggers Blake Burke and Andrew Fischer are tearing up the Southern League for the Milwaukee Brewers’ Double-A affiliate Biloxi Shuckers.
The powerful duo helped the Shuckers finish atop the south division in the first half of the season. Both Burke and Fischer rank among the MiLB leaders in home runs and RBIs this season.
Burke, who was just named the Southern League Player of the Week after an impressive power display in Chattanooga, boasts a .966 OPS and leads the Southern League in both homers (27) and RBIs (79) this season. The sweet-swinging lefty has nine long balls in the month of July, including six over his last four games. Burke went deep three times on July 24 in the Shuckers’ 10-7 victory over Chattanooga.
Fischer has been equally as impressive with the bat in his hands as his 33 home runs across High-A and Double-A this season lead the entire MiLB. Since being promoted to Biloxi, Fischer has a 1.086 OPS with 13 home runs and 24 RBIs in 32 games. The second-year pro has seven bombs this month and has gone deep in four straight games as of July 28.
On the pitching side, after five-plus years working his way through the minor leagues, VFL Garrett Stallings made his long-awaited MLB debut on July 2 with a scoreless inning of relief against Cincinnati.
Since then, the steady right-hander has made two more relief outings in which he has not allowed a hit and recorded four strikeouts. In his three big league appearances, Stallings has tossed five shutout frames and posted five strikeouts while allowing just one hit and two walks.
Updated stats as of June 28 for all former Vols playing pro baseball this season can be found below.
An up-to-date list of where all VFLs are currently playing can be found HERE.
VOLS IN THE MLB (4)
Garrett Crochet – LHP – Boston Red Sox (On 60-day IL)
Stats: 3-3, 6.30 ERA, 6/6 GP/GS, 30.0 IP, 23 R, 21 ER, 11 BB, 37 K, 1.47 WHIP
Chase Dollander – RHP – Colorado Rockies (On 60-day IL)
Stats: 3-3, 3.89 ERA, 10/3 GP/GS, 44.0 IP, 19 R, 19 ER, 18 BB, 47 K, 1.30 WHIP
Drew Gilbert – OF – San Francisco Giants
Stats (MLB): 84 GP, 218 AB, 24 R, 51 H, 77 TB, 10 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 21 RBI, 21 BB, 41 K, .234 AVG, .317 OBP, .353 SLG, .670 OPS
Stats (MiLB): 11 GP, 45 AB, 11 R, 13 H, 18 TB, 2 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 6 BB, 5 K, .289 AVG, .389 OBP, .400 SLG, .789 OPS
Garrett Stallings – RHP – Milwaukee Brewers
Stats (MLB): 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 3/0 GP/GS, 5.0 IP, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K, 0.60 WHIP
Stats (MiLB): 3-3, 3.70 ERA, 18/13 GP/GS, 1 HD, 65.2 IP, 30 R, 27 ER, 24 BB, 60 K, 1.36 WHIP
VOLS IN THE MiLB (42)
Triple-A Vols (11)
Jordan Beck – OF – Albuquerque Isotopes (AAA) – Colorado Rockies
Stats (MLB): 30 GP, 82 AB, 7 R, 15 H, 25 TB, 5 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 10 RBI, 5 BB, 22 K, 2 SB, .183 AVG, .227 OBP, .305 SLG, .532 OPS
Stats (MiLB): 22 GP, 86 AB, 12 R, 24 H, 51 TB, 4 2B, 1 3B, 7 HR, 18 RBI, 6 BB, 21 K, 4 SB, .279 AVG, .330 OBP, .593 SLG, .923 OPS
AJ Causey – RHP – Las Vegas Aviators (AAA) – Athletics
Stats: 3-5, 5.26 ERA, 34/0 GP/GS, 4 HD, 2 SV, 37.2 IP, 33 R, 23 ER, 19 BB, 38 K, 1.38 WHIP
Chad Dallas – RHP – Buffalo Bisons (AAA) – Toronto Blue Jays
Stats (MLB): 1-0, 1.93 ERA, 2/0 GP/GS, 1 HD, 4.2 IP, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 1.07 WHIP
Stats (MiLB): 0-3, 3.16 ERA, 16/12 GP/GS, 1 SV, 57.0 IP, 21 R, 20 ER, 20 BB, 56 K, 1.25 WHIP
Jared Dickey – OF – Las Vegas Aviators (AAA) – Athletics
Stats: 80 GP, 281 AB, 45 R, 70 H, 112 TB, 14 2B, 2 3B, 8 HR, 50 RBI, 39 BB, 52 K, 6 SB, .249 AVG, .343 OBP, .399 SLG, .742 OPS
Max Ferguson – 2B – Worcester Red Sox (AAA) – Boston Red Sox
Stats: 63 GP, 205 AB, 29 R, 52 H, 85 TB, 9 2B, 8 HR, 28 RBI, 23 BB, 60 K, 9 SB, .254 AVG, .325 OBP, .415 SLG, .740 OPS
Seth Halvorsen – RHP – Oklahoma City Comets (AAA) – Colorado Rockies
Stats (MLB): 0-1, 4.74 ERA, 21/0 GP/GS, 2 HD, 19.0 IP, 10 R, 10 ER, 15 BB, 17 K, 1.95 WHIP
Stats (MiLB): 1-0, 1.80 ERA, 18/0 GP/GS, 3 HD, 3 SV, 20.0 IP, 5 R, 4 ER, 8 BB, 25 K, 1.25 WHIP
Ben Joyce – RHP – Salt Lake Bees (AAA) – Los Angeles Angels (On Rehab Assignment)
Stats (MLB): N/A
Stats (MiLB): 0-0, 4.00 ERA, 10/0 GP/GS, 4 HD, 9.0 IP, 5 R, 4 ER, 6 BB, 10 K, 1.78 WHIP
Trey Lipscomb – 3B – Rochester Red Wings (AAA) – Washington Nationals
Stats: 87 GP, 315 AB, 49 R, 88 H, 163 TB, 19 2B, 1 3B, 18 HR, 56 RBI, 20 BB, 88 K, 9 SB, .279 AVG, .320 OBP, .517 SLG, .837 OPS
Christian Moore – 2B – Salt Lake Bees (AAA) – Los Angeles Angels
Stats: 70 GP, 273 AB, 69 R, 84 H, 145 TB, 21 2B, 5 3B, 10 HR, 51 RBI, 56 BB, 77 K, 11 SB, .308 AVG, .429 OBP, .531 SLG, .960 OPS
Andrew Schultz – RHP – Memphis Redbirds (AAA) – St. Louis Cardinals
Stats: 3-1, 4.97 ERA, 14/0 GP/GS, 2 HD, 1 SV, 12.2 IP, 11 R, 8 ER, 9 BB, 18 K, 1.58 WHIP
Blade Tidwell – RHP – Sacramento River Cats (AAA) – San Francisco Giants
Stats (MLB): 0-0, 3.00 ERA, 8/0 GP/GS, 1 HD, 1 SV, 12.0 IP, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 10 K, 1.08 WHIP
Stats (MiLB): 2-3, 4.21 ERA, 15/14 GP/GS, 66.1 IP, 34 R, 31 ER, 33 BB, 75 K, 1.48 WHIP
Double-A Vols (17)
Maui Ahuna – SS – Richmond Flying Squirrels (AA) – San Francisco Giants
Stats: 80 GP, 270 AB, 45 R, 57 H, 91 TB, 13 2B, 3 3B, 5 HR, 29 RBI, 32 BB, 107 K, 16 SB, .211 AVG, .308 OBP, .337 SLG, .645 OPS
Billy Amick – 3B – Wichita Wind Surge (AA) – Minnesota Twins
Stats: 85 GP, 310 AB, 60 R, 67 H, 150 TB, 14 2B, 23 HR, 72 RBI, 49 BB, 107 K, 2 SB, .216 AVG, .336 OBP, .485 SLG, .820 OPS
Drew Beam – RHP – Northwest Arkansas Naturals (AA) – Kansas City Royals
Stats: 5-9, 6.41 ERA, 18/18 GP/GS, 87.0 IP, 66 R, 62 ER, 28 BB, 67 K, 1.37 WHIP
Blake Burke – 1B – Biloxi Shuckers (AA) – Milwaukee Brewers
Stats: 85 GP, 326 AB, 59 R, 90 H, 197 TB, 22 2B, 2 3B, 27 HR, 79 RBI, 40 BB, 90 K, 25 SB, .276 AVG, .362 OBP, .604 SLG, .966 OPS
Aaron Combs – RHP – Reading Fightin Phils (AA) – Philadelphia Phillies
Stats: 0-2, 5.23 ERA, 28/0 GP/GS, 4 HD, 31.0 IP, 23 R, 18 ER, 17 BB, 41 K, 1.42 WHIP
Dean Curley – SS – Akron RubberDucks (AA) – Cleveland Guardians
Stats: 79 GP, 269 AB, 61 R, 68 H, 118 TB, 18 2B, 1 3B, 10 HR, 55 RBI, 86 BB, 106 K, 10 SB, .253 AVG, .446 OBP, .439 SLG, .885 OPS
Liam Doyle – LHP – Springfield Cardinals (AA) – St. Louis Cardinals
Stats: 2-6, 4.91 ERA, 16/16 GP/GS, 66.0 IP, 39 R, 36 ER, 41 BB, 82 K, 1.56 WHIP
Dylan Dreiling – OF – Frisco RoughRiders (AA) – Texas Rangers
Stats: 83 GP, 331 AB, 61 R, 96 H, 161 TB, 16 2B, 2 3B, 15 HR, 57 RBI, 43 BB, 83 K, 10 SB, .290 AVG, .367 OBP, .486 SLG, .853 OPS
Andrew Fischer – 3B – Biloxi Shuckers (AA) – Milwaukee Brewers
Stats: 86 GP, 305 AB, 80 R, 88 H, 208 TB, 15 2B, 3 3B, 33 HR, 74 RBI, 67 BB, 127 K, 9 SB, .289 AVG, .425 OBP, .682 SLG, 1.107 OPS
Gavin Kilen – SS – Richmond Flying Squirrels (AA) – San Francisco Giants
Stats: 87 GP, 344 AB, 52 R, 99 H, 162 TB, 32 2B, 2 3B, 9 HR, 73 RBI, 36 BB, 51 K, .288 AVG, .354 OBP, .471 SLG, .825 OPS
Cortland Lawson – SS – Harrisburg Senators (AA) – Washington Nationals
Stats: 62 GP, 207 AB, 18 R, 51 H, 78 TB, 10 2B, 1 3B, 5 HR, 27 RBI, 22 BB, 72 K, 1 SB, .246 AVG, .326 OBP, .377 SLG, .703 OPS
Andrew Lindsey – RHP – Montgomery Biscuits (AA) – Tampa Bay Rays
Stats: 2-1, 4.46 ERA, 25/0 GP/GS, 2 HD, 40.1 IP, 20 R, 20 ER, 14 BB, 46 K, 1.31 WHIP
Will Mabrey – LHP – Amarillo Sod Poodles (AA) – Arizona Diamondbacks
Stats: 0-1, 5.56 ERA, 9/2 GP/GS, 11.1 IP, 12 R, 7 ER, 5 BB, 10 K, 1.50 WHIP
Jorel Ortega – 2B – Wichita Wind Surge (AA) – Minnesota Twins
Stats: 49 GP, 161 AB, 17 R, 22 H, 36 TB, 2 2B, 4 HR, 15 RBI, 15 BB, 67 K, 7 SB, .137 AVG, .221 OBP, .224 SLG, .445 OPS
Jake Rucker – 3B – Wichita Wind Surge (AA) – Minnesota Twins
Stats: 37 GP, 117 AB, 24 R, 35 H, 68 TB, 8 2B, 2 3B, 7 HR, 22 RBI, 21 BB, 22 K, 7 SB, .299 AVG, .408 OBP, .581 SLG, .989 OPS
Nate Snead – RHP – Rockey City Trash Pandas (AA) – Los Angeles Angels
Stats: 6-8, 3.76 ERA, 17/17 GP/GS, 79.0 IP, 33 R, 33 ER, 20 BB, 68 K, 1.11 WHIP
Seth Stephenson – OF – Erie SeaWolves (AA) – Detroit Tigers
Stats: 72 GP, 292 AB, 58 R, 66 H, 87 TB, 16 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 21 RBI, 25 BB, 72 K, 47 SB, .226 AVG, .308 OBP, .298 SLG, .606 OPS
High-A Vols (8)
Jake Fitzgibbons – LHP – Hillsboro Hops (High-A) – Arizona Diamondbacks
Stats: N/A (On Full-Season IL)
Tanner Franklin – RHP – Peoria Chiefs (High-A) – St. Louis Cardinals
Stats: 3-4, 4.41 ERA, 18/18 GP/GS, 67.1 IP, 38 R, 33 ER, 32 BB, 84 K, 1.28 WHIP
Bryce Jenkins – RHP – Brooklyn Cyclones (High-A) – New York Mets
Stats: 4-2, 1.96 ERA, 30/0 GP/GS, 6 HD, 1 SV, 36.2 IP, 8 R, 8 ER, 15 BB, 42 K, 0.85 WHIP
Cannon Peebles – C – Lake County Captains (High-A) – Cleveland Guardians
Stats: 64 GP, 218 AB, 40 R, 46 H, 85 TB, 14 2B, 2 3B, 7 HR, 35 RBI, 56 BB, 69 K, 9 SB, .211 AVG, .381 OBP, .390 SLG, .771 OPS
Marcus Phillips – RHP – Greenville Drive (High-A) – Boston Red Sox
Stats: 0-5, 6.89 ERA, 15/14 GP/GS, 48.1 IP, 41 R, 37 ER, 39 BB, 55 K, 1.78 WHIP
AJ Russell – RHP – Hub City Spartanburgers (High-A) – Texas Rangers
Stats: 1-3, 3.38 ERA, 17/15 GP/GS, 40.0 IP, 16 R, 15 ER, 21 BB, 60 K, 1.30 WHIP
Cal Stark – C – Hub City Spartanburgers (High-A) – Texas Rangers
Stats: 47 GP, 142 AB, 15 R, 20 H, 38 TB, 6 2B, 4 HR, 14 RBI, 16 BB, 66 K, 2 SB, .141 AVG, .257 OBP, .268 SLG, .525 OPS
Kavares Tears – OF – Fort Wayne TinCaps (High-A) – San Diego Padres (On 7-Day IL)
Stats: 69 GP, 240 AB, 31 R, 54 H, 113 TB, 14 2B, 3 3B, 13 HR, 44 RBI, 35 BB, 91 K, 1 SB, .225 AVG, .326 OBP, .471 SLG, .797 OPS
Single-A Vols (1)
Austin Breedlove – RHP – Tampa Tarpons (A) – New York Yankees
Stats: 2-1, 2.73 ERA, 20/0 GP/GS, 29.2 IP, 13 R, 9 ER, 15 BB, 33 K, 1.25 WHIP
Rookie Ball Vols (5)
Brandon Arvidson – LHP – FCL Cubs (Rookie) – Chicago Cubs
Stats: N/A
Evan Blanco – LHP – FCL Athletics (Rookie) – Athletics
Stats: N/A
Henry Ford – 3B – FCL Mariners (Rookie) – Seattle Mariners
Stats: N/A
Tegan Kuhns – RHP – FCL Cardinals (Rookie) – St. Louis Cardinals
Stats: N/A
Bo Rhudy – RHP – FCL Phillies (Rookie) – Philadelphia Phillies
Stats: N/A
