From starter to a key relief pitcher, AJ Causey found confidence in his family.
Hoover, Ala. – When it comes to Tennessee’s relief pitcher, AJ Causey it’s always a family affair. That bond helped him find success through adversity with Tennessee.
While his family will always be the foundation, his dad, Todd told Full Disclosure his family unit has expanded with his Tennessee teammates.
“They you know challenge each other just like our boys grew up you know together challenging each other and the competitiveness and, “Hey, you know let’s get better together!” And that environment has just created a great chemistry at Tennessee,” said Todd.
Last year, AJ was a key Friday starter at Jacksonville State. He quickly assumed a similar role with the Vols.
Though the sidewinder struggled to find consistency as a starter, so Tennessee made the move to have the transfer come in relief. A change that allowed AJ to embrace a lesson his dad instilled in
him as a kid.
“Do your best wherever you are, in whatever role, and the more roles that you know that you can handle uh the more opportunities you’re going to get,” said Todd.
Success he’d find.
Out of the pen, AJ has essentially been lights out. And when in tandem with Chris Stamos. it’s a one-two punch many teams can’t handle.
“A lot of movement on his ball, [AJ] threw from a different angle, you don’t see it every day,” said Texas A&M third baseman, Gavin Grahovac. “So it’s hard to work on it any time you have. But that guy’s got good stuff and he overpowered us today,”
Aggies Head Coach Jim Schlosnaggle added to that sentiment, “That’s a tough duo, man. You can’t, it’s really tough to prepare for.”
It’s a combination that’s helped him regain his rhythm.
“I think we’re [AJ and Stamos] two like completely different looks, him being like over the top left him me being a low slot righty,” said AJ. “But other than that, I just think he goes out and he competes and so kind of calms me and makes me go out there and do what he did. It’s really calming.”
While AJ navigated his role with the team he relied heavily on the support from his brothers.
“When he’s had you know outings that he necessarily wasn’t, you know the most proud of or you know he wasn’t happy… [The] first people he talks to are his brothers,” said Todd.
That connection between AJ and his three brothers has been a constant in their lives, from childhood to post home games at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. The four are always working on their craft and finding ways to get more spin on the ball.
“AJ was working with Nick on some different pitches and was like, “Hey, try this release point out here and hold on to it till you get out to here.” And Alex is out there catching and AJ’s coaching and Nick is out there pitching. So him trying to teach, also helps him to get better as well,” said Todd.
AJ’s been perfecting that spin since he was 13.
“He definitely has played wiffle ball for many, many years with his brothers,” said Todd.
AJ’s travel coach encouraged him to embrace the throw since he couldn’t pitch as hard as his teammate Drew Beam.
“Went out there and started throwing with his brothers and they started working on different grips, and he’s like, “Wow! Look at the movement on this thing!” And them being competitive trying to get each other out. “Can I strike my brother out? If I can strike my brother out, then I can do whatever I need to with anybody else,'” said Todd.
AJ and his family have always been fiercely competitive, a side Tony Vitello has seen quite a few times.
“Then [AJ] Causey, as soon as he saw me out there, I’ve seen that look before, he wanted no part of coming out of the game,” said Vitello.
A look Todd said AJ gets from both his parents.
“I tell people they get a double dose of it. Mom was a competitive gymnast and I played soccer and was a multisport athlete,” said Todd.
When the whole family’s together, not even the chairs are safe.
“I remember one time when there were chairs broken in our house over, you know dominoes or spoons or something like that. When they get older and they’re grown and they have families we’ll finally be able to have you know nice things in our house,” said Todd.
It’s that bond and family-like competitiveness that’s allowed AJ to thrive at Tennessee.
“The teammates that he has at Tennessee are his new brothers. You know, the family just keeps growing and getting better,” said Todd.
AJ and the Vols would go on to win the 2024 SEC Baseball Tournament.
