Senior Pitcher and Outfielder AJ Curry has been electric to start the season. In their home opener, the two-way star struck out five batters in just two innings and hit a three-run homer. The Tennessee commit is hoping to improve on his dominant junior season, in which he hit over .400 and only allowed ten earned runs in 61 innings on the mound.
Curry is the nation’s thirty-fifth-ranked recruit. He had over 30 Division I offers before his commitment to Tennessee. Curry chose Tennessee over schools like Vanderbilt and Texas because of “…the coaching staff, the environment, and the city. Those were the main things that really made me realize Tennessee was the school for me,” he said.
As one of the most highly touted recruits in the nation, Curry has been a welcome addition to the UC program. “It says a lot about the culture here. AJ believed in what we are building and wanted to be a part of it,” said Head Coach Chris Greer.
Curry attended Francis Parker High School as a freshman, then moved to Kentucky for his sophomore year, which is when he took a big leap. “My recruiting took off after my sophomore year at the Perfect Game Futures Games. It was probably my biggest national event that I had gone to at that time, and I ended up batting one thousand,” said Curry.
Before his return to San Diego, Prep Baseball ranked Curry as the number one player in Kentucky’s 2026 graduating class (prepbaseballreport.com). Curry, who likely would have been welcomed by any baseball program in the city, said, “There were a couple of things that made me choose UC High. A big part of it was that a lot of my friends were already here, and they told me it was a good school. They were also coming off a CIF Championship in baseball, so that took care of the baseball part of the decision.”
Since committing to Tennessee, Curry’s recruiting hasn’t slowed, but it has moved to the highest level of the game. This past summer, Curry attended the DICK’s Perfect Game All-American Classic, which has produced 850 Major League Baseball (MLB) draft picks, 293 first-round picks, five MLB MVPs, 22 Rookies of the Year, and 22 Gold Glove winners (sandiegouniontribune).
Curry has been in contact with almost half of the MLB, including the Padres, Dodgers, and Yankees. He is now preparing for the draft. “I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to be in this year’s draft. It is a dream come true,” said Curry.
The Centurions, following their back-to-back CIF Championships, are now in the Western League, facing powerhouse programs like Cathedral Catholic and Patrick Henry. “This will be a big year for us. We get the chance to prove we belong in the conversations as a top team in San Diego,” said Curry.
Curry hopes to continue to grow as a player. “You have to pick what you’re worst at and try to make that your strength. Even if you think your swing is perfect, try to make a little tweak to make it even just slightly better,” said Curry.
Greer spoke as highly of Curry’s character as he did of his skill. “He’s a humble kid. He shows up, competes, and is a good teammate. We try to keep pushing him, put him in competitive situations, and help him keep growing on and off the field,” said Greer.
Curry’s accomplishments in three years of high school baseball exceed what most accomplish in four, yet he thinks his senior year will be his most important yet. Curry said, “This season is a great opportunity. Competing against the city’s best talent, trying to win my second CIF Championship and the team’s third, I am excited. A great season can really change my future.”