Sparkman’s A.J. Causey Signs With Kansas City Royals- Dream Come True
HARVEST- Former Sparkman High All-State baseball player A.J. Causey is now on a trip of what most young baseball players only dream of, but never experience. The former player for the Senators is currently in Arizona in training camp and assessment after being selected by the Kansas City Royals in the fifth round of the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft. He was the No. 138 overall pick and one of eight players called in the first two days of the Draft from the Tennessee Volunteers, fresh off claiming both the SEC and National Championships.
“When I went in the draft was certainly a pleasant surprise and it’s great to be chosen with my great teammates,” said Causey from his home in Harvest prior to packing his bags and headed out to Arizona.
On the 2024 season for Tennessee, the 21-year old Causey was 13-3, with 125 strikeouts and a 4.43 ERA coming in 19 appearances and six starts. His 13 victories were tied for the best in the country. The 6-foot-3, 225 righthander is known for his unusual sidearm pitching style and a superb specialty change-up. His near submarine angle and movement certainly make batters uncomfortable at the plate.
Causey played his first two seasons of collegiate baseball at Jacksonville State before entering the transfer portal and making a stop at Tennessee. He just completed his junior season with the Vols but decided to turn professional by signing with the Royals.
“I trust in the Lord with my timeline of possibly making it to the Major Leagues as I’d like to say maybe two years from now I’d like to be in ‘The Show’ with the Royals,” said Causey, who indicated he will take much of his signing bonus from the Royals and let that money be invested, then help his mother and father with their home where he grew up.
Like most young boys who take to the baseball diamond, Causey had dreams of playing professional baseball as early as he can remember. He and his three brothers along with other youngsters in the neighborhood would converge into Causey’s backyard for daily games of Whiffle Ball. He set up multiple fields utilizing different corners of the yard as the homeplate area of each field setup. The action was fast, furious and very competitive. Causey added about his memories of the fun time as a youngster growing up in Harvest, “I wish I was the best player in our Whiffle Ball action, but I honestly think my little brother, Nick, was the best. I do remember having those dreams of one day being a Major League Baseball player.”
Born on Nov. 19, 2002, in Huntsville Hospital, his given names are Anthony Jordan and has certainly made a name for himself on the baseball diamond and comes from a marvelous family which includes his parents and three brothers. Watching the MLB Draft in their living room from their Harvest home, the entire family sat together playing a board game while watching and listening to the Draft. Causey’s phone suddenly rang and on the other end of the call was a representative of the Royals who informed the All-American pitcher he was about to picked by the team in the fifth round.
“We were watching and then the moment came when my name was called,” said Causey. “It was an awesome moment. We all screamed with joy and had a group hug. For me personally, what just happened took about an hour before it hit me. I’m a professional baseball player.”
A dream come true for Causey who was asked about a possible baseball card of himself that could one day be added to his already coveted collection he still has in his home. “I’m not sure what I want my card to look like if I ever have one made.”
Causey should consider what his baseball card will look like. There’s no predicting the future, but maybe one day, those moments of pretending while he played Whiffle Ball will become reality with a collectable card of his own as a player in Major League Baseball.
