Bryce Cunningham

School: Vanderbilt
Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.6
BA Grade: 50/High
Tools: Fastball: 55. Slider: 50. Changeup: 55. Control: 50.

Cunningham split time as a starter and reliever during his first two seasons at Vanderbilt, but he pitched well in the Cape Cod League as a starter in 2023 and continued to thrive in the role during his 2024 draft season this spring. A 6-foot-5, 230-pound righthander, Cunningham pitched to a 4.36 ERA in 16 starts and 84.2 innings, though he had wonky home-road splits and was consistently better in Nashville than he was on the road. His arsenal starts with a power fastball that sits 94-95 mph and has been up to 99 in the past, but the pitch typically topped at 97 this spring. His fastball has above-average velocity and was his most consistent pitch for strikes. Cunningham also throws a mid-80s slider that was previously his best swing-and-miss offering, though the pitch was supplanted by an upper-80s changeup that was his most consistent offspeed weapon in 2024. His change features surprisingly high spin rates and tremendous armside movement that make it difficult to square up. His slider features tight two-plane break at times, but he’ll need to rein in his command and consistency to make the most of it. Cunningham has shown he can throw enough strikes to start, but he’ll need to continue refining his secondary command and start-to-start consistency in pro ball. He should be the first Vanderbilt pitcher off the board and seems like a safe day one selection.