The Milwaukee Brewers have the best record in Major League Baseball (78-49) despite being dead last in home runs (118).

Seems like the only thing they need is some power.

Seems like they have it on the horizon in 22-year-old Andrew Fischer.

Milwaukee’s first-round pick in the 2025 MLB Draft has crashed 37 homers in the minors in 2026. He’s one swat from 40 if you count a spring-training blast and another “bombino” for Team Italy in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

“What I have seen is he is an incredible hitter,” said Mike Guerrero, manager of the Brewers’ Double-A Biloxi (MS) farm team. “His potential offensively is really high. If we can make him an average defender or better, you could have an All-Star for a lot of years.”

That comment was made in February to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. Since then, Fischer has done this at two levels:

• 54 games for Class A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: 20 homers, 50 RBI, .298.
• 51 games for Double-A Biloxi Shuckers: 17 homers, 38 RBI, .236.
• 105 games overall: 37 homers, 88 RBI, .268, 80 walks, 159 strikeouts.

After Milwaukee made Fischer the 20th overall pick in 2025, Tod Johnson, the Brewers’ VP of amateur acquisition told McCalvy: “(There was) a split in the room a little bit, but a decent chunk of our group thought he was the best college hitter in the Draft this year. We're pretty excited to add that kind of bat to our system."

Fischer’s coach at Tennessee, Tony Vitello (now manager of the San Francisco Giants) told MLB Network that day: “He’s just a big teddy bear on the field that loves competing, loves being around the guys, loves being around the group.”

The six-foot, 210-pound New Jersey native began his college career at Duke in 2023, transferred to Mississippi in 2024 and t0 defending NCAA champ Tennessee.

"I’m just a kid trying to make the most of my opportunity in college," Fischer told Ben McKee of 24/7sports.com in 2025. “I have dreams of playing professional baseball and dreams of winning a national championship. Anyone who tells you they wouldn't do what they felt is right for them and best for their family is lying to you. That's something that I felt was the right move for me.”

Tennessee did not repeat as champions. Fischer got $3.5 million to sign after hitting .341 with 25 homers and 65 RBI in 65 games for the Volunteers.

A Great-Great Opportunity

Fischer got to play for Italy in the WBC because his great-great grandfather Angelo Mazzeo was born near Naples in 1889.

The WBC was a fun learning experience. Hitting .357 (5-for-14) with 2 doubles, a homer and 4 RBI in 4 games in fun anywhere. Doing it on a big stage and helping the upstart Italians to a 5-1 record and third-place finish was even better.

Fischer expressed pure elation while rounding the bases on the homer and credited Kansas City Royals slugger Vinnie Pasquantino for helping the younger players.

“I think our team chemistry developed at an incredible speed," he told Italian reporters. “I believe it all started with Vinnie and the way he made us feel from the very first moment. I immediately felt comfortable, which allowed me to open up to the others."

Be Wary, However …

Brewers fan sites are celebrating Fischer becoming the first Milwaukee minor-leaguer to hit 30+ home runs in 25 years. The last to do it was Lancxe Burkhart.

Who? Exactly.

Burkhart belted 32 homers across High-A (20 at High Desert, California League) and Double-A (12 at Huntsville, Southern League) in 2001. The right-handed hitter totaled 93 RBI and hit .280 that year.

Burkhart never got to the majors. Injuries contributed. He played eight years in three organizations (Expos, Brewers, Orioles) in the minors, then five seasons in the independent Atlantic League, and is in his 12th season as a minor-league coach. He’s the Giants’ minor-league catching coordinator.

How Things Change

The Brewers are seeking their fourth consecutive NL Central Division title and eighth playoff trip in nine years.

They are also dreaming of making Milwaukee’s second trip to the World Series. Ever. As in since 1982. When the Brewers were in the American League.

That’s not all that has drastically changed. Back then, the Brewers belted more home runs than any team on the planet. “Harvey’s Wallbangers” – nicknamed after manager Harvey Kuenn, banged out 216 homers that year.

Gorman Thomas hit 39, Ben Oglivie 34, and Cecil Cooper 32. Hall of Famers Robin Yount (29), Ted Simmons (23) and Paul Molitor (19) had “Bernie Brewer” wearing out the seat of his pants sliding down to celebrate after every homer, too.

Bernie’s celebratory slide has been a tradition since the mascot first set sail after a homer by infielder Pedro Garcia in 1973.

As for those “Wallbangers” of 44 years ago … they began the final day of the 1982 season tied with Baltimore, then belted four homers (two by Yount, one apiece by Cooper and Simmons) to rout the Orioles, 10-2, and make the playoffs for just the second time.

They beat the California Angels in a five-game series then lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in a seven-game World Series. The Cardinals were built on pitching, defense and speed – much like the current Brewers.

Milwaukee Brewers’ Future

The Brew Crew has the most electrifying pitcher on the planet in fastball sensation Jacob Misiorowski (207 strikeouts in 139 innings, 1.75 ERA). They also have a bullpen with the third-best ERA overall and most saves (40), anchored by closer Trevor Megill (22 saves, 2.44 ERA).

Highly-touted Cooper Pratt and Luis Lara have been called up to help the offense and defense.

The Brewers are averaging 5.0 runs a game, third in the NL, and allowing a league-best 3.7 runs a game. They are second in doubles (222) and walks (532), third in steals (127) and tied for the lead with the arch-rival Chicago Cubs in on-base percentage (.337). They find a way to get it done.

They also have the No. 1 prospect in the game as ranked by MLB.com in 19-year-old switch-hitting infielder Jesus Made.

Is it too early for Made or Fischer to contribute this year? Maybe, though one or both could be added to the roster as valuable reserves. Made has 107 steals in 272 games in the minors and could be an important pinch-runner in a late-inning situation. Fischer’s booming bat could be used in a crucial pinch-hitting role.

Bernie Brewer may need to get a new set of pants. As the Milwaukee Brewers’ bright and radiant future goes up, he may be sliding down – a lot.