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Blake Burke is Tennessee’s new home run king

On3 imageby:Eric Cain•04/06/24•

_Cainer

Blake Burke
Credit: UT Athletics

After previously tying his predecessor Luc Lipcius for the record last Saturday against Georgia, slugging first baseman Blake Burke has now claimed soul possession of the Tennessee baseball home run record by blasting career home run No. 41 a week later at Auburn.

The historic Burke blast happened in the top of the fourth inning in leadoff fashion. It was a solo home run that travelled 379 feet to left field – 102 miles per hour exit velo – on a 3-1 count. The home run gave Tennessee a 9-0 lead at the time.

The first baseman tied the record initially in game two of the series against Georgia on March 30. It came in the bottom of the third inning in solo fashion and was 117 miles per hour off the bat, travelling 411 feet. The home run cut the Vols deficit to just three runs in the ballgame at 7-4 at the time.

Lipcius ended his Tennessee career as the program’s home run king, launching his 40th career longball in his final game in a Volunteers uniform in 2022 on June 12. In fact, the first baseman belted three home runs vs. Notre Dame in Super Regional play, battling teammate Evan Russell for the crown. 

Burke and Lipcius were tied with 40 Tennessee home runs for just seven days while Russell is now two back of the new leader at 39. VFL and now Major League Baseball Hall of Famer – Todd Helton – finished with 38 career home runs. Current Tennessee second baseman Christian Moore is making his move up the ranks as well, sitting only two back with 39 career home runs. Moore went yard for the second time of the series earlier in Saturday’s ballgame.

The Brentwood, Calif. native, Burke belted 14 home runs in 2022 as a true freshman. He accomplished the feat in his first collegiate season in only 95 at-bats as a part-time player. As a sophomore in 2023, Burke launched 16 home runs and now sits at 10 home runs thus far into the 2024 campaign.

Burke is off to a stellar start to his junior season as he’s currently second on the squad with a .411 average and second on the squad with 11 home runs. He also is tied for third with 27 RBI and is well ahead of the pack with a team-high 17 doubles – he’s also leading the nation in that regard. The first baseman is currently riding an 21-game hit-streak and 29-game on-base streak.

Throughout his career, Burke has been named a Perfect Game Freshman All-American (2022), Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American (2022) and to the SEC All-Freshman Team (2022). The first baseman was also named a Preseason All-American (2nd Team) by Baseball America ahead of the 2024 campaign.

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