The Yankees chose right-handed pitcher Bryce Cunningham from Vanderbilt University with their 53rd overall pick in the second round. Following their selection of Ben Hess, another talented college pitcher in the first round, New York has once again looked to collegiate pitching to strengthen their farm system.
Cunningham is a robust pitcher, standing tall at 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds. During his early years at Vanderbilt, he had mixed success, moving between starting and relieving roles. Across his first two college seasons, he posted a 5.62 ERA with 72 strikeouts in 75.1 innings.
His fortunes began to change after an impressive showing in the Cape Cod League last summer. By 2024, he transitioned full-time into a starting role and significantly improved, achieving a 4.32 ERA with 96 strikeouts and 34 walks over 84.2 innings in his junior season.
Despite these advancements, his statistics are not exceptional, making this another instance where the Yankees prioritize potential and raw ability over current performance. Cunningham features a fastball consistently in the mid-90s, occasionally reaching 97 mph, complemented by a dependable slider and a changeup with potential for excellence. Baseball America ranked him 39th in their pre-draft evaluations, noting average or better ratings for all three of his pitches.
Watch all 10 of Bryce's punch outs 👀
This is the third time he's struck out 10 or more this season 🔥 pic.twitter.com/l18PIGGRk6
— Vanderbilt Baseball (@VandyBoys) May 11, 2024
According to FanGraphs’ Eric Longenhagen, Cunningham’s challenge lies in consistently throwing strikes, although scouts universally praise his athleticism and delivery. His profile resembles that of Ben Hess, emphasizing the Yankees’ strategy of selecting promising collegiate pitchers with room for development under their player development system.
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