Blake Burke and Andrew Fischer both have a following in Tennessee, where they finished their college careers at the University of Tennessee a year apart before the Milwaukee Brewers selected them in the first round.
The two slugging corner infielders at Class AA Biloxi donned orange gear to represent their roots when their team traveled to face the Knoxville Smokies this week. They also celebrated their return to the state with dingers.
The first baseman Burke, one of the Brewers’ first-round draft picks in 2024, cemented the third 20/20 season in Biloxi Shuckers history when he reached the 20-homer threshold Sunday, July 12. He also doubled both Friday, July 10 and Saturday, July 11 and has an .891 OPS with 20 steals to go along with his 20 bombs.
The No. 15 prospect in the Brewers organization won the College World Series in 2024 with Tennessee. He wasn’t the only ex-Volunteer going deep Sunday.
The week almost ended without a home run for Fischer, the No. 7 prospect in the Brewers organization, but then came Sunday. The 22-year-old third baseman belted his 29th of the season. The Brewers’ first pick in the 2025 draft has a 1.135 OPS on the season, and that’s including a better mark at Class AA Biloxi (1.177) than at Class High A Wisconsin this year (1.118). He’s up to nine homers, five steals, four doubles and two triples in 73 at-bats with the Shuckers. He started the week going 3-for-4 on July 7, with two doubles and a triple.
There was one more quirk to the Biloxi-Knoxville experience. Fellow top prospect Josh Adamczewski also homered during the series, but Knoxville sideline announcer Philip Stalzer got so wrapped up reviewing the experience of a hot dog that he was consuming that he didn’t even mention the blast.
With the Brewers minor-league system considered the best in baseball, we’ve been keeping tabs on everything that’s gone on at the lower levels this season:
- Class AAA Nashville (53-40) split six games against Charlotte (Chicago White Sox)
- Class AA Biloxi (46-37) likewise went 3-3 against the Smokies (Chicago Cubs)
Class High A Wisconsin (48-34) followed the same pattern, going 3-3 against state rival Beloit (Miami Marlins).
Class A Wilson (47-39) went 4-1 in its series against Fayetteville (Houston Astros)
The Arizona Complex League rookie-league Brewers are 24-27, while the Dominican Summer League teams are 15-13 (Gold) and 16-13 (Blue).
Class AAA Nashville (53-40) split six games against Charlotte (Chicago White Sox)
Class AA Biloxi (46-37) likewise went 3-3 against the Smokies (Chicago Cubs)
Class High A Wisconsin (48-34) followed the same pattern, going 3-3 against state rival Beloit (Miami Marlins).
Class A Wilson (47-39) went 4-1 in its series against Fayetteville (Houston Astros)
The Arizona Complex League rookie-league Brewers are 24-27, while the Dominican Summer League teams are 15-13 (Gold) and 16-13 (Blue).
- Catcher Jeferson Quero (No. 9 on MLB Pipeline) continues to look ready for duty should the Brewers need help behind the plate. He went 7-for-20 this week with a double and two walks for Nashville, bringing his season OPS to .779 (.348 on-base percentage) with 10 homers. The 23-year-old still only has two Major League plate appearances, early this season, but William Contreras and Gary Sánchez have been steady and available all season.
Tyler Black had hits in every game last week at Nashville, including a home run July 10 and a double July 9, with three steals. The designated hitter has a .781 OPS in 180 at-bats for the Sounds, with five homers and 17 steals.
Blake Perkins went 1-for-14 at Nashville in his first week back at AAA, though he walked six times.
The second rehab outing for Coleman Crow (No. 23 on Pipeline) wasn’t as good as his first. He allowed four earned runs in 3⅓ innings July 10 for Nashville, walking two and striking out a pair. He had thrown three scoreless innings July 4.
Rehabbing left-handed reliever Rob Zastryzny was pulled from his July 11 appearance with Nashville after getting just one out, yielding a hit and walk. He was returned to the injured list.
Catcher Jeferson Quero (No. 9 on MLB Pipeline) continues to look ready for duty should the Brewers need help behind the plate. He went 7-for-20 this week with a double and two walks for Nashville, bringing his season OPS to .779 (.348 on-base percentage) with 10 homers. The 23-year-old still only has two Major League plate appearances, early this season, but William Contreras and Gary Sánchez have been steady and available all season.
Tyler Black had hits in every game last week at Nashville, including a home run July 10 and a double July 9, with three steals. The designated hitter has a .781 OPS in 180 at-bats for the Sounds, with five homers and 17 steals.
Blake Perkins went 1-for-14 at Nashville in his first week back at AAA, though he walked six times.
The second rehab outing for Coleman Crow (No. 23 on Pipeline) wasn’t as good as his first. He allowed four earned runs in 3⅓ innings July 10 for Nashville, walking two and striking out a pair. He had thrown three scoreless innings July 4.
Rehabbing left-handed reliever Rob Zastryzny was pulled from his July 11 appearance with Nashville after getting just one out, yielding a hit and walk. He was returned to the injured list.
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers second baseman Daniel Dickinson has fallen off the prospect map a bit after encountering struggles early in the season, but he’s bounced back in a big way, buoyed by a superb performance this week.
Dickinson finished the week going 9-for-17 in the final four games, including two doubles, three homers, nine RBIs, six walks and six stolen bases.
Suddenly, his season-long numbers look pretty good. The 22-year-old has five homers and 32 swipes, with a .417 on-base percentage and a .786 OPS. The sixth-round pick in the 2025 draft played college ball at LSU, where he won a national championship. He signed for under slot but immediately found his way onto some prospect lists, then off them when his batting average dipped below .200 midway through June.
But since June 20, he’s had eight multi-hit games and is another infield prospect worth monitoring.
Before his appearance July 12 in the Futures Game, Made launched a grand slam July 9 as part of a three-hit day, but that was his only game with a hit this week (going 0-for-13 otherwise). The 19-year-old has a .789 OPS with nine homers and 26 stolen bases in AA. He became the 11th teenager to hit a Double-A grand slam.
The 19-year-old has an .833 OPS at Class High A Wisconsin, with a smooth .410 on-base percentage, one homer and 19 steals in 111 at-bats. Peña played in three games and had five hits, including two doubles, then played all seven innings at third base in the Futures Game.
Williams left the game for a pinch hitter July 7 and hasn’t seen the field since with a minor wrist injury. Unfortunately for Williams, it came at a time when he might have been called up had he been healthy.
It was another productive week for the fast-rising outfielder, with two homers and five hits overall in six games. The 21-year-old has a .989 OPS over his two levels this year, including an .883 mark since his promotion to Biloxi. He also has 13 stolen bases this year, including three in Biloxi.
Left-hander Wande Torres has gone from intrigue to something much more over his past few starts at Class A Wisconsin, including a brilliant July 9 performance in which he allowed one hit in seven innings, with zero walks, one hit batter and eight strikeouts.
The 21-year-old from the Dominican Republic is 6-5 with a 4.46 ERA and 1.30 WHIP, but his recent work is electric. On July 3, he struck out 10 and allowed one run in seven innings, and his two outings before that also sparkled.
Over those last four appearances, he has allowed two earned runs in 25⅔ innings, with a 0.70 ERA, 29 strikeouts, one walk, two hit batters and 17 hits allowed.
Torres, who missed all of 2023 with injury and can hit 97 mph on his fastball, may finally be having a breakout season.
- Luke Adams (No. 11 according to Pipeline) had hits in all four of his games for Nashville, including a double and a home run, with four RBIs, three walks and three stolen bases. The 22-year-old third baseman has a 1.042 OPS this year, with 14 homers and eight steals. He went 4-for-5 on July 10 with three runs scored.
Braylon Payne (No. 12 according to Pipeline) went 3-for-6 on July 10 with a home run and three RBIs for Wisconsin, a strong showing in his three games played last week. He scored six runs over the three games and also stole three bases. He has a .975 OPS at Class High A and won’t turn 20 until next month.
In the same week the Brewers made his younger brother, Trey, the team’s first-round draft pick, Brady Ebel (No. 13 according to Pipeline) had a solid week at Wilson, including a 3-for-4 outing July 9 with two doubles. He had another double July 7 and finished with four hits in four games, plus two steals and six walks. He has a .412 OPS in 286 at-bats this season, with a .793 OPS (six homers, 26 steals).
It was a successful two-start week for Wisconsin starter Ethan Dorchies (No. 17 according to MLB Pipeline), who spun five shutout innings to close the week July 12 following a strong outing July 7 in which he allowed two earned runs over 4⅓ innings. He allowed just three hits in his second outing, with one walk and eight strikeouts after permitting three hits and two walks with three strikeouts earlier in the week.
Eric Bitonti (No. 22 according to Pipeline) slugged a home run July 11 and finished the week with a double, seven RBIs and a stolen base. The 20-year-old has been playing more third base for the Timber Rattlers and has an .894 OPS for the season with 15 bombs and 17 steals.
Brailyn Antunez (No. 26 according to Pipeline) had a homer and double among his four hits in four games this week with the Arizona-league Brewers. The 18-year-old outfielder has nine homers, 11 steals and an .884 OPS in 192 at-bats.
Alexander Frias (No. 27 according to Pipeline and a top-100 prospect in baseball according to Baseball America) kept shining at Wilson, playing in four games and getting two hits in three separate games. He homered July 12 (in a game that began July 11) and drove in four runs, finishing the week with eight RBIs, plus a stolen base and two walks. The rapid riser has a 1.048 OPS this season across two levels. Frias, 18, has a .757 OPS and .338 OBP in 15 games at Class A.
Josiah Ragsdale (No. 28 according to Pipeline) homered July 9, continuing his strong start in Biloxi, with a 1.008 OPS in his first 11 games since the 22-year-old outfielder got promoted.
With Logan Henderson playing enough to graduate from MLB Pipeline’s top 30, newcomer Ricki Moneys arrived at No. 29, and he had a nice week to show for it, with a home run and double July 11 among his four hits for the week with the Dominican Summer League Gold team. He also stole two bases July 7. The 17-year-old infielder has four homers, 15 steals and a .966 OPS this season in 109 at-bats.
José Anderson has been on a home-run tear for Wilson, with four homers over the past three games for the Warbirds. The 19-year-old outfielder is up to 21 bombs on the year and had six RBIs last week to bring his total to 60. The problem? His batting average is just .197 and his on-base mark just .287 as he struggles with strikeouts (125 in 328 plate appearances this year for a 38% strikeout rate).
Nashville infielder Eddys Leonard homered twice this week and added a double among his four hits last week. The 25-year-old infielder has 12 homers, eight steals and an .873 OPS this year, though the Brewers trading for Braden Shewmake suggests they’re not in a hurry to add him to the big-league roster. Perhaps it’s a lack of experience on the left side of the infield; Leonard has played primarily second base and left field in the minors this year, with brief appearances at third base, shortstop and right field.
Jaron DeBerry turned in another outstanding outing for Biloxi on July 9, striking out 11 in seven innings while permitting just one earned run (two hits, three walks). The 23-year-old right-hander, a third-round pick in 2024, has a 4.00 ERA in 83⅓ innings and a 1.24 WHIP, but he also had a 6.29 ERA through his May 17 start and has cruised along ever since. He has struck out double-digit batters in both of his July starts, following up his 10-punchout, six-inning performance July 3.
Mike Boeve had a pair of multi-hit games and six hits overall in six games this week for Biloxi, with two doubles and two stolen bases. The 24-year-old has a .795 OPS.
Jacob Morrison, a third-round pick in 2025, battled an injury that kept him out for most of June and has been slowly working his way back in July. The 6-foot-8 right-hander allowed one run in 3⅓ innings on July 8, giving up two hits, no walks and striking out four for Wilson.
Juan Ortuno had a three-hit day July 7 (one of two multi-hit games last week) and collected three doubles in four games. The 19-year-old Venezuelan infielder has a .763 OPS at Wilson.
In his second appearance for Biloxi, Braylon Owens delivered the goods with a strong six innings, allowing one run, four hits, one walk and five strikeouts. The 23-year-old right-hander, a 10th-round pick in 2025, was promoted from Wisconsin at the end of June and now has a 3.80 ERA and 1.31 WHIP over two levels. In his first outing at Biloxi on July 5, he allowed three earned runs with four hits, six walks and seven strikeouts over 3⅔ innings of relief.
Daniel Corniel, a 22-year-old right-hander pitching for Wisconsin, has a 2.01 ERA in 22⅓ innings, with a 0.90 WHIP. In his latest outing, he allowed one earned run in four innings, permitting two hits and two walks with three strikeouts July 8.
One week after making his emotional pro debut, Frank Cairone was back in action at the Arizona Complex League on July 9, allowing no hits, two walks and two earned runs in 1⅔ innings, with two strikeouts. The 18-year-old left hander, taken in the second round last year, is working his way back from a car accident.
Manuel Rodriguez closed the week with five shutout innings, allowing two hits with seven strikeouts and one walk for Biloxi. The 20-year-old right hander bounced back from back-to-back ugly outings.
Welcome to Class A, Diustin Mayorquin. The highly intriguing right-hander threw three shutout innings July 12 for Wilson, allowing one hit with no walks and four strikeouts. Keep an eye on the 18-year-old.
Andrew Healy, a ninth-round pick from Duke last year, had one of his best outings at Wilson on July 9, allowing one earned run in five innings with four hits, one walk and five strikeouts. The lefty is 23 years old and has a 5.17 ERA this season.
The DSL Blue team got great ptching July 7 when Joan Gonzalez allowed one hit over five innings (two walks, four strikeouts), and Derlin Garcia worked the other four innings allowing one hit of his own, with no walks and three strikeouts in a shutout win. Gonzalez is a 17-year-old right-hander with a 5.21 ERA in 19 innings, and Garcia is 19 with a 4.21 ERA in 26 innings.
Luke Adams (No. 11 according to Pipeline) had hits in all four of his games for Nashville, including a double and a home run, with four RBIs, three walks and three stolen bases. The 22-year-old third baseman has a 1.042 OPS this year, with 14 homers and eight steals. He went 4-for-5 on July 10 with three runs scored.
Braylon Payne (No. 12 according to Pipeline) went 3-for-6 on July 10 with a home run and three RBIs for Wisconsin, a strong showing in his three games played last week. He scored six runs over the three games and also stole three bases. He has a .975 OPS at Class High A and won’t turn 20 until next month.
In the same week the Brewers made his younger brother, Trey, the team’s first-round draft pick, Brady Ebel (No. 13 according to Pipeline) had a solid week at Wilson, including a 3-for-4 outing July 9 with two doubles. He had another double July 7 and finished with four hits in four games, plus two steals and six walks. He has a .412 OPS in 286 at-bats this season, with a .793 OPS (six homers, 26 steals).
It was a successful two-start week for Wisconsin starter Ethan Dorchies (No. 17 according to MLB Pipeline), who spun five shutout innings to close the week July 12 following a strong outing July 7 in which he allowed two earned runs over 4⅓ innings. He allowed just three hits in his second outing, with one walk and eight strikeouts after permitting three hits and two walks with three strikeouts earlier in the week.
Eric Bitonti (No. 22 according to Pipeline) slugged a home run July 11 and finished the week with a double, seven RBIs and a stolen base. The 20-year-old has been playing more third base for the Timber Rattlers and has an .894 OPS for the season with 15 bombs and 17 steals.
Brailyn Antunez (No. 26 according to Pipeline) had a homer and double among his four hits in four games this week with the Arizona-league Brewers. The 18-year-old outfielder has nine homers, 11 steals and an .884 OPS in 192 at-bats.
Alexander Frias (No. 27 according to Pipeline and a top-100 prospect in baseball according to Baseball America) kept shining at Wilson, playing in four games and getting two hits in three separate games. He homered July 12 (in a game that began July 11) and drove in four runs, finishing the week with eight RBIs, plus a stolen base and two walks. The rapid riser has a 1.048 OPS this season across two levels. Frias, 18, has a .757 OPS and .338 OBP in 15 games at Class A.
Josiah Ragsdale (No. 28 according to Pipeline) homered July 9, continuing his strong start in Biloxi, with a 1.008 OPS in his first 11 games since the 22-year-old outfielder got promoted.
With Logan Henderson playing enough to graduate from MLB Pipeline’s top 30, newcomer Ricki Moneys arrived at No. 29, and he had a nice week to show for it, with a home run and double July 11 among his four hits for the week with the Dominican Summer League Gold team. He also stole two bases July 7. The 17-year-old infielder has four homers, 15 steals and a .966 OPS this season in 109 at-bats.
José Anderson has been on a home-run tear for Wilson, with four homers over the past three games for the Warbirds. The 19-year-old outfielder is up to 21 bombs on the year and had six RBIs last week to bring his total to 60. The problem? His batting average is just .197 and his on-base mark just .287 as he struggles with strikeouts (125 in 328 plate appearances this year for a 38% strikeout rate).
Nashville infielder Eddys Leonard homered twice this week and added a double among his four hits last week. The 25-year-old infielder has 12 homers, eight steals and an .873 OPS this year, though the Brewers trading for Braden Shewmake suggests they’re not in a hurry to add him to the big-league roster. Perhaps it’s a lack of experience on the left side of the infield; Leonard has played primarily second base and left field in the minors this year, with brief appearances at third base, shortstop and right field.
Jaron DeBerry turned in another outstanding outing for Biloxi on July 9, striking out 11 in seven innings while permitting just one earned run (two hits, three walks). The 23-year-old right-hander, a third-round pick in 2024, has a 4.00 ERA in 83⅓ innings and a 1.24 WHIP, but he also had a 6.29 ERA through his May 17 start and has cruised along ever since. He has struck out double-digit batters in both of his July starts, following up his 10-punchout, six-inning performance July 3.
Mike Boeve had a pair of multi-hit games and six hits overall in six games this week for Biloxi, with two doubles and two stolen bases. The 24-year-old has a .795 OPS.
Jacob Morrison, a third-round pick in 2025, battled an injury that kept him out for most of June and has been slowly working his way back in July. The 6-foot-8 right-hander allowed one run in 3⅓ innings on July 8, giving up two hits, no walks and striking out four for Wilson.
Juan Ortuno had a three-hit day July 7 (one of two multi-hit games last week) and collected three doubles in four games. The 19-year-old Venezuelan infielder has a .763 OPS at Wilson.
In his second appearance for Biloxi, Braylon Owens delivered the goods with a strong six innings, allowing one run, four hits, one walk and five strikeouts. The 23-year-old right-hander, a 10th-round pick in 2025, was promoted from Wisconsin at the end of June and now has a 3.80 ERA and 1.31 WHIP over two levels. In his first outing at Biloxi on July 5, he allowed three earned runs with four hits, six walks and seven strikeouts over 3⅔ innings of relief.
Daniel Corniel, a 22-year-old right-hander pitching for Wisconsin, has a 2.01 ERA in 22⅓ innings, with a 0.90 WHIP. In his latest outing, he allowed one earned run in four innings, permitting two hits and two walks with three strikeouts July 8.
One week after making his emotional pro debut, Frank Cairone was back in action at the Arizona Complex League on July 9, allowing no hits, two walks and two earned runs in 1⅔ innings, with two strikeouts. The 18-year-old left hander, taken in the second round last year, is working his way back from a car accident.
Manuel Rodriguez closed the week with five shutout innings, allowing two hits with seven strikeouts and one walk for Biloxi. The 20-year-old right hander bounced back from back-to-back ugly outings.
Welcome to Class A, Diustin Mayorquin. The highly intriguing right-hander threw three shutout innings July 12 for Wilson, allowing one hit with no walks and four strikeouts. Keep an eye on the 18-year-old.
Andrew Healy, a ninth-round pick from Duke last year, had one of his best outings at Wilson on July 9, allowing one earned run in five innings with four hits, one walk and five strikeouts. The lefty is 23 years old and has a 5.17 ERA this season.
The DSL Blue team got great ptching July 7 when Joan Gonzalez allowed one hit over five innings (two walks, four strikeouts), and Derlin Garcia worked the other four innings allowing one hit of his own, with no walks and three strikeouts in a shutout win. Gonzalez is a 17-year-old right-hander with a 5.21 ERA in 19 innings, and Garcia is 19 with a 4.21 ERA in 26 innings.
The top four leagues are all taking four days off for the all-star break and playing just a weekend series July 17-19.
- Nashville vs. Norfolk (Baltimore Orioles)
Biloxi vs. Pensacola (Miami Marlins)
Wisconsin vs. Quad Cities (Kansas City Royals)
Wilson at Hickory (Texas Rangers)
The Arizona Complex League and Dominican Summer League rookie-ball teams will also be in action throughout the entire week.
Nashville vs. Norfolk (Baltimore Orioles)
Biloxi vs. Pensacola (Miami Marlins)
Wisconsin vs. Quad Cities (Kansas City Royals)
The Arizona Complex League and Dominican Summer League rookie-ball teams will also be in action throughout the entire week.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: In Brewers minor-league update, Fischer, Blake have happy homecoming
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