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Hunter Ensley to sign undrafted free agent deal with Royals

On3 imageby: Eric Cain07/16/25_Cainer
Hunter Ensley. Credit: Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Hunter Ensley. Credit: Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Tennessee senior outfielder Hunter Ensley went undrafted in the 2025 Major League Baseball Draft, but the longtime Vol plans to sign an undrafted free agent deal with the Kansas City Royals, Volquest has learned. The veteran team captain was a super senior who spent the bulk of the past three seasons as the everyday centerfielder for the Volunteers.

The outfielder reeled in Second-Team All-SEC honors as a senior while also being named to the SEC All-Defensive Team as an outfielder. The gold glover committed one error on the year while registering a .990 fielding percentage with 93 putouts and two outfield assists in the regular season.

Ensley broke out at the plate this season, leading the Volunteers with 60 RBI in the regular season. He was second to Gavin Kilen with a .350 batting average ahead of postseason play while tallying the most at-bats on the squad with 241. The slugger homered 10 times, scored 46 runs, stole seven bases and led the Vols with 17 doubles.

His 60 RBI was tied for sixth in the league by the end of the regular season. Ensley’s 72 hits tied for seventh in the SEC and his .350 batting average was good enough for 13th in the conference. The Huntingdon High School standout finished his Tennessee career hitting .303 with 29 home runs, 141 RBI and 41 doubles across 205 games played and 174 starts.

Ensley was one of the heroes for Tennessee during the national title run in Omaha last summer, turning in arguably the two biggest plays of the season for the Big Orange at just the perfect time.

Tennessee in the 2025 MLB Draft

Round 1 (No. 5 overall) Liam Doyle – Cardinals
Round 1 (No. 9 overall) Steele Hall (signee) – Reds
Round 1 (No. 10 overall) Billy Carlson (signee) – White Sox
Round 1 (No. 13 overall) Gavin Kilen – Giants
Round 1 (No. 20 overall) Andrew Fischer – Brewers
Round 1 (No. 25 overall) Kruz Schoolcraft (signee) – Padres
Round 1 (No. 33 overall) Marcus Phillips – Red Sox
Round 2 (No. 52 overall) AJ Russell – Rangers
Round 2 (No. 64 overall) Dean Curley – Guardians
Round 2 (No. 72 overall) Tanner Franklin – Cardinals
Round 3 (No. 105 overall) Nate Snead – Angels
Round 5 (No. 149 overall) Matt Barr (JUCO) – Twins
Round 7 (No. 225 overall) Mason Estrada (portal) – Dodgers
Round 14 (No. 430 overall) Clay Edmondson (portal) – Padres
Round 15 (No. 456 overall) DJ Newman (portal) – Astros
Round 17 (No. 522 overall) Cannon Peebles – Guardians
Round 18 (No. 534 overall) Ethan Moore (signee) – Reds
Round 19 (No. 572 overall) Cameron Appenzeller (signee) – Mariners

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