Tennessee outfielder Hunter Ensley signed an undrafted free agent deal and will begin his professional career with the Kansas City Royals. Ensley went unselected in the 20-round MLB Draft earlier this week but quickly found a landing spot to continue his baseball career.
An under the radar prospect, Ensley didn’t play in his first two years in Knoxville but fully made the most of the next three to become a program legend. Ensley was a part of two College World Series teams and played a major role on Tennessee’s 2024 national championship team.
“What an honor to be able to wear Tennessee across my chest for the past 5 years!” Ensley wrote in an Instagram post last month. “Forever grateful for all the memories and relationships Knoxville has brought me! Vol Nation, 🫶🏽!”
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After an up-and-down first half of the 2024 season, Ensley got on an absolute tear for the final six weeks of the season. Ensley delivered in a multitude of big moments on the Vols’ way to the first national championship in program history including his iconic slide to score what proved to be the deciding run in game three of the College World Series finals.
Ensley finished the 2024 season hitting .296 with 12 home runs, 15 doubles and 48 RBIs. The Huntington, Tennessee native kept it going entering 2025 where Ensley hit .336 with 10 home runs, 17 doubles and 62 RBIs.
The offensive production all came in tandem with Ensley playing elite defense in centerfield and being one of the top leaders in Tennessee’s program.
Ensley came back for his redshirt senior season following the national championship and continued to produce at the plate and defensively. He hit .336 with 10 home runs, 17 doubles and a career-high 62 RBIs from the three-spot.
The Huntington, Tennessee native joins some friendly faces in the Kansas City farm system. The Royals drafted and signed former Vols AJ Causey and Drew Beam last season. Causey is currently in AA while Beam is in High-A.
