The New York Yankees added more arm talent to their prospect pool, selecting Vanderbilt right-handed pitcher Bryce Cunningham with the No. 53 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft.
The 21-year-old was the No. 63 overall prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. At 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds, Cunningham had a career 4.95 ERA in three seasons for the Commodores.
In 2024, he went 7-4 with a 4.36 ERA, 96 strikeouts and a 1.22 WHIP in 84.2 innings.
Here’s the scouting report on the Yankees’ second-round pick from MLB Pipeline:
Bryce Cunningham MLB Draft scouting report
Fastball: 60
Slider: 50
Changeup: 60
Control: 50
Overall: 50
“While Cunningham’s mid-90s fastball velocity with a peak of 97 mph is nothing new, he’s doing a better job of locating his heater and keeping it off barrels with carry up in the zone. It plays extremely well with one of the best swing-and-miss changeups in college baseball, a hard upper-80s cambio that plummets at the plate. His sweeping mid-80s slider is an effective third offering.
Improving his strength and athleticism has helped Cunningham do a better job of repeating his clean delivery. He’s throwing more strikes and maintaining his stuff deeper into games. He exhibits the upside of a No. 2 or 3 starter and unlocking a better slider could help him get there.”