2024 MLB Draft Profile: Bryce Cunningham
Draft Profile: Bryce Cunningham (Vanderbilt)
Height: 6'5
Weight: 240
Bats/Throws: Right/Right
Bryce Cunningham, the Vanderbilt Swiss Army Knife of sorts, is an imposing right-handed pitcher who may be peak team interest ahead of the 2024 MLB Draft.
Cunningham’s fastball movement profile is interesting, as he can tick up to 98 MPH with 18 inches of induced vertical break. It can rise in the zone with some carry to it, and can run up hitters to generate swings and misses when he uses it ahead in counts.
Even better, he can locate it, which will come in handy for those who like to project.
Cunningham also boasts a slider and changeup, so a three-pitch mix.
His slider in particular needs some polish, as it does not generate as much swing and miss as I would like for someone of Cunningham’s build, and LHH in particular does a lot of damage to it.
His changeup is not as used as often as the other two, but it’s a nice third pitch to have to compliment the others and play off his fastball, including an impressive 35 percent whiff rate and sub-two percent hard-hit and barrel rates. It does a good job serving what he intends to use it as, and I think its usage may tick up a bit this year.
Conclusion
Cunningham is an interesting case study. I do not think he will be a starter behind Vanderbilt’s pitching depth, so there is not as much opportunity to broaden his horizons and is more about true projection.
His fastball profile is good and he can execute with it, which gives him a chance at being a starting pitcher. His changeup also plays off it well, and he uses it effectively.
His command is not erratic, which is a plus.
His primary break pitch needs work. It does not generate swings and misses at a high clip, and that would be a concern for me, as a starter or reliever, so that may need to be tinkered with.
Cunningham’s sample sizes are limited due to his primary role being in relief, but three years of data should be enough to evaluate him after this year.
His fastball profile is enough for me to consider working with him as a starter, and he is a big kid with an imposing build. Cunningham going in the first round is plausible, but it would require his fastball velocity to consistently be in the mid to high 90s this year, whichwould be ideal for his future projections. There is enough here for teams to work on him as a starter once they have him in their system.
