Former Tennessee Baseball Pitcher Traded Ahead Of 2026 Season

AJ Causey traded from Kansas City Royals to Oakland Athletics

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Former Tennessee baseball right-handed pitcher AJ Causey has been traded from the Kansas City Royals to the Oakland Athletics ahead of the 2026 season. Causey spent just one season with the Vols in 2024, where he was a key part of the team's national championship run.

Why it matters

Causey's trade marks the second time the Royals have traded a former Tennessee player to the Athletics, following the trade of utility man Jared Dickey. This move highlights the continued success of Tennessee baseball in developing talent that is sought after by MLB teams.

The details

Causey is entering his second full professional season after a standout 2025 campaign in the Royals' minor league system. He made 27 appearances in High-A Quad Cities where he posted an 8-2 record, 1.56 ERA and 0.89 WHIP in 40.1 innings pitched. Causey was then promoted to AA Northwest Arkansas, where he continued to excel with a 3-3 record, 1.91 ERA and 0.91 WHIP in 33 innings pitched.

  • Causey spent the 2024 season at Tennessee, where he was a key part of the Vols' national championship team.
  • Causey was traded from the Kansas City Royals to the Oakland Athletics on February 13, 2026, ahead of the upcoming 2026 season.

The players

AJ Causey

A former right-handed pitcher for the Tennessee Volunteers baseball team, who is now entering his second full professional season after being traded from the Kansas City Royals to the Oakland Athletics.

Jared Dickey

A former utility player for the Tennessee Volunteers baseball team, who was previously traded from the Kansas City Royals to the Oakland Athletics.

Drew Beam

A former pitcher for the Tennessee Volunteers baseball team, who was teammates with AJ Causey in the Kansas City Royals' minor league system.

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What’s next

Causey will look to continue his strong performance as he joins the Oakland Athletics organization and aims to work his way up to the major league level.

The takeaway

The trade of AJ Causey from the Royals to the Athletics highlights the continued success of the Tennessee Volunteers baseball program in developing talent that is highly sought after by MLB teams.