Former Tennessee baseball standout Chad Dallas made his first career MLB appearance on Thursday night a day after the Toronto Blue Jays called him up to the big league squad.
Dallas turned in a strong performance and earned his first career win as the Blue Jays defeated the Atlanta Braves 7-2 at Truist Park in Atlanta. The right-handed pitcher came in to pitch in relief in the second inning and allowed one run on two hits and two walks while striking out two batters in 3.2 innings pitched.
The former fourth round pick in the 2021 MLB Draft kept Toronto in the game as its offense scratched out three runs on 10 hits against Braves’ ace Chris Sale. Dallas also made a nifty defensive play to help himself get out of a third inning jam.
MLB Debut? No fear!
Cheese Dallas with the web gem 😤 pic.twitter.com/MEPXegYz4P
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) June 5, 2026
Dallas spent over four years in Minor League Baseball before finally making his MLB debut in 2026. He posted a 4.50 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in 36 innings pitched in AAA Buffalo so far this season.
More From RTI: Air Force Transfer Infielder Visiting Tennessee Baseball
The Texas native missed the entirety of the 2025 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery but spent most of the 2024 season in AAA.
Dallas spent the 2020 and 2021 seasons at Tennessee. He was the Friday night ace on the 2021 Volunteer team that returned to the College World Series for the first time in 16 years. Dallas posted a 11-2 record, 4.19 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in 103 innings pitched during his junior season.
Dallas is the 11th former Tennessee player to make his MLB debut since COVID-19, joining a Garrett Crochet, Chase Dollander, Andre Lipcius, Jordan Beck, Drew Gilbert, Blade Tidwell, Seth Halvorsen, Christian Moore, Trey Lipscomb and Ben Joyce.
Toronto is the reigning American League champions and enters its weekend series against Baltimore with a 30-33 record on the 2026 season. They’re eight games back of the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East.
