Bryce Cunningham made significant strides as a junior at Vanderbilt this spring. The right-handed pitcher attributes his success to his experience in the Cape Cod League in 2023 and an improved mental approach.
After two inconsistent seasons as a swingman for Vanderbilt, Cunningham emerged as a reliable starting pitcher this spring. Scouts have noticed his improved pitch mix, control, command and mentality. His performance and potential have caused him to garner interest for the upcoming MLB draft.
Scouts project Cunningham as a potential second-round pick in the draft, which begins on July 14.
“It’s exciting and something I have worked for with the hope of achieving that goal,” Cunningham said. “I’m just excited to see what the future has for me.”
Cunningham is a 6-foot-5, 230-pound right-hander who throws a fastball, changeup and slider from a three-quarters arm slot and repeatable and low-effort delivery.
Cunningham primarily relies on his above-average fastball and changeup combination. His 94-97 mph four-seam fastball is his best pitch. He commands his four-seamer well and uses it to attack hitters high in the strike zone. Cunningham’s changeup is his go-to off-speed pitch. It’s an above-average pitch that generates a lot of swings and misses due to its fading action.
Besides his pitches, scouts rave about Cunningham’s competitiveness on the mound.
“I don’t want to lose at anything I do,” Cunningham said. “I take that mindset to the mound. When a hitter steps to the plate, it’s me versus him, and may the best man win at that point. That’s my biggest strength.”
Cunningham shows quality potential as a starting pitcher. But he needs to do a better job of limiting the hard contact, as he surrendered 14 home runs in the spring, and develop a reliable third pitch.
Cunningham’s slider flashes quality strikeout ability, but he isn’t consistent with the pitch. He will need to continue refining the offering in hopes of generating a better feel and more consistent movement.
“Going forward, I need to work on my slider a little more,” Cunningham said. “I’m not sure if it’s a grip or a minor tweak with it. That is one of those things we will figure out moving forward.”
In Cunningham’s first two years, he split time between the starting rotation and bullpen. He experienced mixed results, struggling at times with his control, and posted a 4.59 ERA in 33 1/3 innings as a freshman and a 6.43 ERA in 42 innings as a sophomore.
Last summer, Cunningham pitched in the prestigious Cape Cod League for the second time in his career. He went into the summer with an open mind, hoping to fine-tune his pitches and overall skills on the mound. He finished the summer with a 2.38 ERA in 22 2/3 innings.
The growth he experienced in the summer carried over into the 2024 season. He had more success repeating his delivery, which allowed him to throw more strikes in the spring. He posted a 4.36 ERA with 96 strikeouts and 34 walks allowed in 84 2/3 innings.
Vanderbilt made the NCAA Tournament in each of Cunningham’s three years in the program. While the Commodores didn’t advance as far as Cunningham hoped for, he raves about the experiences and development he has made at Vanderbilt.
“My experience at Vanderbilt was amazing,” Cunningham said. “It’s like a family. You have people you can count on forever. Everyone cares about you and is invested in you. It’s an awesome program to be a part of.”
Read more in-depth stories on top 2024 MLB draft prospects at Baseball Prospect Journal.
Dan Zielinski III has covered the MLB draft for nine years. He has interviewed 518 of the top draft prospects in that period, including four No. 1 overall picks. Multiple publications, including Baseball America, USA Today, MLB.com, The Arizona Republic and The Dallas Morning News, have quoted his work, while he has appeared on radio stations as a “MLB draft expert.” Follow him on Twitter @DanZielinski3.
