Brewers' 2025 first-round pick puts on a show in World Baseball Classic debut

The first weekend of the World Baseball Classic has been a massive success. From walk-off homeruns to 17-year-old pitchers matching up against MLB All-Stars to Brice Turang collecting three hits and four RBI in his WBC debut, meaningful baseball is back, and fans are loving it.

Turang isn't the only member of the Milwaukee Brewers' organization who made his WBC debut this weekend. On Sunday afternoon, the Brewers' 2025 first-round pick, Andrew Fischer, made his WBC debut for Team Italy as they matched up with Team Great Britain, who needed a win to avoid mathematical elimination from the international tournament. Fischer didn't appear in Italy's WBC opener on Saturday night against Team Brazil, but his name was in the lineup -- batting 7th and playing third base -- for the team's second game when it was released on Sunday morning.

Great Britain jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, and it remained a two-run deficit for the Italians until Fischer stepped to the plate for his first at-bat in the bottom of the third frame. Facing Owen Wild, Great Britain's starting pitcher who resides in the Tampa Bay Rays' minor league system, Fischer faced a 2-2 count. In an attempt to put away the left-handed slugger, Wild spun a slider, but he left it up in the zone, and Fischer didn't miss it. The Brewers' first-round pick, who led the SEC in home runs last year, crushed the hanging breaking ball just over the right-field fence, cutting Great Britain's lead in half.

Brewers' 2025 first-round pick, Andrew Fischer, crushes home run in his first World Baseball Classic at-bat

After Fischer rounded the bases, J.J. D'Orzaio, Team Italy's catcher who plays in the Arizona Diamondbacks' system, followed it up with a solo shot of his own to tie the game at two runs apiece.

Fischer returned to the plate for his second WBC at-bat the following inning. With a runner on third base and two outs, Fischer ripped a ground ball to first base, spinning around BJ Murray who impressively gloved the grounder at the cold corner. However, Fischer was booking it down the line, and by the time Murray collected himself, the Brewers' prospect was already at first base. Fischer's hustle allowed the run to score from third base and Team Italy took a 3-2 lead.

Italy grew their lead to five runs by the end of the fifth inning and though Great Britain collected two runs in the top of the eighth, their comeback attempt ultimately came up short. Team Italy improved to 2-0 in pool play while Great Britain fell to 0-3 and now has no chance of advancing to the Quarterfinals.

Fischer collected two more at-bats in the contest, which resulted in a groundout and a strikeout, but that didn't put a damper on his excellent WBC debut. In addition to his home run and RBI single, Fischer played clean defense at third base, which was the biggest question mark when the Brewers drafted him last July. All in all, things couldn't have gone much better for the 21-year-old Fischer. Team Italy's next game is Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m. CT against Team USA.