Braves NRI In-Depth: Todd Cunningham
by cbwilk on Feb 16, 2012 4:22 PM EST
in Braves Prospect Reviews
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After a so-so debut with Low A Rome in 2010 that saw him hit .260 with a .679 OPS, 9 doubles, 20 RBI, and 7 stolen bases in 65 games, Todd Cunningham was looking forward to his first full season with High A Lynchburg. Unfortunately a series of leg injuries turned it into more of a half season, as he played in just 87 games for the HIllcats, hitting .257 with a .701 OPS, 12 doubles, 4 triples, 4 homers, 20 RBI, and 14 stolen bases in 386 plate appearances.
More than anything, Cunningham needs a healthy 2012, but he also needs to show more with the bat when he is on the field. He won a batting title in the Cape Cod Summer League while in college, but as a professional he has a .257 career average. He's a hands first, contact hitter, and so far he hasn't been making contact. He also hasn't shown a ton of patience for a player who projects as a two hole hitter, walking in 8.5% of his plate appearances with Lynchburg, while striking out in 12.2%. He doesn't provide much in the way of slugging, with 23% of his hits last season going for extra bases, and at his age, 23 in March, with his batting approach, he's unlikely to develop much power. Defensively, he's an above average fielder with an average arm capable of playing all three outfield positions. He would probably be best in left field, but his defense is solid enough in center field that he's very playable there.
Major League Spring Training should be a good experience for Cunningham, since he'll be able to spend time with veteran hitters who can teach him how to refine his approach for better contact, and possibly even how to maximize the power in his swing. At his age it would make sense if the Braves started him out at AA Mississippi, but there's also a chance he could start the year at Lynchburg again, if only to get some confidence under his belt for a month before moving him up.
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8.5% really isn’t that bad.
Not good, but not bad.
Freeman isn’t on Heyward’s level in terms of tools, skills, or baseball IQ–but it’s fair to say Freeman has failed to meet the modest expectations in place for him - Capitol Avenue Club (May 28th, 2011)
Patience in young guys is hard to find. Typically, the guys who are patient sacrifice power and tend to be slow around the basepaths. It’s pretty rare to find those guys like Heyward who just get it.
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I don’t think any of our prospects have patience. Also, if he starts at AA, does that mean that Jones starts at AAA? If so, what do we do with the loser of the Constanza/Durango battle?
I think Myke Jones is going to AAA regardless of what happens with anyone else. I’d project him to be the team’s center fielder, and probably hit 1 or 2 every day. Either Constanza or Durango will end up in AAA, along with Stefan Gartrell and Jordan Parraz. There are enough times where the AAA team uses the DH for four starting outfielders to get regular playing time. I’m guessing Cory Harrilchak ends up back in AA, at least to start the year.
I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it:
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I think Harrilchak is actually a little ahead of Jones at this point
They’ve come up together at every level, and Harrilchack has put up better numbers at every stop (although last year they were pretty much even). Jones does have a little more power than Harrilchak though.
Well, I disagree, if only because Jones has the potential to be a much more dynamic player. He has the much better skill set, with more speed and more pop, and a great chance of being an impact guy. I’m a huge fan of Harrilchak, but I just get the sense he hasn’t done enough yet to really distinguish himself to the organization. I have a feeling he’ll be a guy who’ll spend two or three more years in the Minor with the Braves, then end up in another organization somehow and play in the Majors as a 4th outfielder/platoon starter. It’s just a wild speculation, but that’s what I think will end up happening for him. Either way, I like both of those guys’ potential, actually much more than I like Cunningham’s.
I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it:
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A guy that Harrilchak really reminds me of is Gregor Blanco
Interested to see if Blanco gets a shot with the Giants this year.
That’s probably a pretty good comp. I think Blanco looked a little more dynamic earlier in his career, but by the time he was the age Harrilchak is now, he was pretty similar, if only he had more speed and Harrilchak has more pop.
I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it:
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Is it wrong that I am not that excited about this guy? He looks like nothing more than a 4th outfielder, on a team like the Houston Astros
"Performance comes from work and dedication, belief and strength. Words and excuses get you nowhere." -Jason Heyward, Atlanta Braves Rightfielder
Honestly, at this point I’d project him as a fourth outfielder too. He’s a guy that you definitely appreciate more the more you see him play, a lot like second baseman Phil Gosselin, but at this point I don’t see him as a regular. I’m hoping to see a solid year out of him though.
I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it:
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How would he compare to the old Braves farmhand
Ryan Langerhans?
http://sportsandgrits.com/
by Mr. Sanchez on Feb 17, 2012 10:31 AM EST up reply actions
Defensively it’s really not close. Ryan was a top notch outfielder with a cannon arm. In Ryan’s year 22 season, he played in AA and hit .251 with a .755 OPS, 23 doubles, 9 homers, 62 RBI, and 10 stolen bases, so that’s a little better overall than what Cunningham did this year, though it was Langerhans’ 5th pro season, after just having spent 2 at High A. I think I’d project Cunningham to have better contact, if only because that’s what his game relies on, but less pop and not as good defense, so to me, unless Cunninham really steps up his game hard, Langerhans would seem to be a more valuable player off a bench.
I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it:
http://www.amazon.com/Four-C-B-Wilkins/dp/1449578454/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257720610&sr=1-1
www.dropoutproductions.com
Ryan Langerhans now had 9 years in which he logged time on ML rosters … only 591 Gs and 1459 PAs, but still a very decent run for a guy who is AAAA.
Never understood how Langerhans kept getting work
Terrible hitter, yet surprisingly got on base at a decent rate. .226 hitter with a .333 on base percentage.
Cunningham
I was actually quite pissed on draft night (as it is here) in 2010 when the Braves selected Cunningham with the second pick. My guess is that he would have been still available at #3 or #4 or even lower in the draft. It is now clear that Braves were more interested in a player they could sign, than one who had a higher ceiling; in any event, Cunningham has been a clear disappointment. The power has not shown up and as cbwilk points out he has yet to realize the potential he showed in the Cape Code League in 2009. That said, Cunningham was beginning to shine in 2011 when he was slowed by injuries. There is still a chance that he will develop into a useful regular, but It is not at all clear that he will react well to AA pitching. The Braves may have to settle for a 4th outfielder, which is not a bad thing, but not quite what we would like to see from a second round pick…
by Stephen in the UAE on Feb 17, 2012 10:16 AM EST reply actions
Maybe he eventually becomes a 4th OF for the Braves
But like the above poster said, he shouldn’t have been taken that high in 2010. This guy is still living off his Cape Cod batting title. He hasn’t done much in his 2 years with the Braves, and to be honest he probably needs to be back in Lynchburg until he proves himself. I’m from Alabama and when I found out the Braves were taking a Jax State guy I was excited. I’m really pulling for him, but so far he’s been a disappointment.
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