Todd Cunningham

Todd Cunningham

St. Louis Cardinals
Left fielder
Born: (1989-03-20) March 20, 1989
Jacksonville, Alabama
Bats: Switch Throws: Right
MLB debut
July 30, 2013, for the Atlanta Braves
MLB statistics
(through 2015 season)
Batting average .223
Home runs 0
Runs batted in 4
Teams

Thomas David "Todd" Cunningham III (born March 20, 1989) is an American professional baseball left fielder in the St. Louis Cardinals organization. He previously played for the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

High school and college

Cunningham was born in Jacksonville, Alabama on March 20, 1989 to David and Brenda Cunningham.[1] He attended Jacksonville High School in his hometown, where he was a three-time first-team All-State selection. In his four seasons with the Golden Eagles, he hit .446 with 216 runs and 112 stolen bases. He was also an All-County punter.[2] Cunningham went on to attend Jacksonville State University, where as a freshman, he was named the 2008 Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year and was a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American. After his freshman season, he played for the Brazos Valley Bombers of the Texas Collegiate League, where he led the league with a .310 average and was named to the TCL All-League team. After the 2009 season, he played for the Falmouth Commodores of the Cape Cod League, where he led the league with a .378 average, making him the Thurman Munson Batting Champion.[3] He also led the league in hits and on-base percentage. Cunningham was a Baseball America preseason All-American for the 2010 season.[4] In 171 games over three seasons with the Gamecocks, he hit .346 with 22 HR, 118 RBI and 36 SB.

Professional career

Cunningham was drafted in the second round, 53rd overall, in the 2008 MLB Draft by the Atlanta Braves, and he signed.[5] He was assigned to Single-A Rome as an outfielder, though Cunningham had played third base throughout his collegiate career.[6][7] In 65 games, he hit .260 with 1 HR, 20 RBI and 7 SB. Cunningham played 2011 with A-Advanced Lynchburg, where in 87 games, he hit .257 with 4 HR, 20 RBI and 14 SB. He was named to the Carolina League All-Star team, joining fellow Hillcats Joey Terdoslavich, Andrelton Simmons and Adam Milligan.[8] After the season, he played with the Surprise Saguaros of the Arizona Fall League.[9]

Cunningham played 2012 with Double-A Mississippi, where in 120 games, he hit .309 with 3 HR, 51 RBI and 24 SB. Cunningham was a mid-season and post-season All-Star.[10] After the year, he was announced the Braves' Organizational Player of the Year.[11] Cunningham was invited to spring training as a non-roster invitee.[12] Cunningham began 2013 with Triple-A Gwinnett, where he hit .279 with 2 HR, 30 RBI and 18 SB in 99 games before being called up.

Cunnungham batting for the Atlanta Braves in 2015 spring training

He was called up to the major leagues for the first time on July 30, 2013 to replace the injured Reed Johnson,[13] and recorded his first career major league hit and subsequent run the same day against the Colorado Rockies.[14] Cunningham was optioned to the minors on August 11, having made six appearances in his first major league stint.[15] After Brandon Beachy was placed on the disabled list, Cunningham was recalled on August 23, only to be sent to the minors five days later, when Dan Uggla was reactivated.[16][17] He was invited to spring training in 2014, and sent down to Gwinnett on March 20.[18] Cunningham spent the entire 2014 season in the minors. He was again invited to spring training in 2015,[19] but not recalled until May 15, 2015, to make his first major league start against the Miami Marlins.[20][21] On June 14, Cunningham was optioned to Gwinnett,[22] and returned to the majors for a one-day stint on August 7.[23][24] He was recalled on September 8 and spent the final three weeks of the season in Atlanta.[25]

Cunningham was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on October 9, 2015.[26] He was outrighted to the minors on April 2, 2016.[27] On June 11, Cunningham was recalled for the first time in 2016.[28] Seven days later, Cunningham was designated for assignment and subsequently sent to the Triple A Salt Lake Bees.[29] He was recalled on July 6,[30] and redesignated for assignment on July 26.[31] Cunningham spent the rest of the season with the Bees.[32][33]

On November 18, 2016, Cunningham signed a minor league deal with the St. Louis Cardinals that included an invitation to spring training.[34]

References

  1. ↑ McCarter, Mark (May 12, 2012). "Braves' prospect Todd Cunningham shows versatility in video targeted for youth ministry". The Huntsville Times. Retrieved April 17, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Todd Cunningham - 2010 Baseball". Jacksonville State University. Retrieved April 17, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Todd Cunningham Continues to Receive Cape Cod Awards". August 17, 2009. Archived from the original on August 30, 2009. Retrieved April 17, 2016.
  4. ↑ "JSU's Todd Cunningham Named First-Team Preseason All-American by Baseball America". February 5, 2010. Retrieved April 17, 2016.
  5. ↑ Stephenson, Creg (May 15, 2015). "Jacksonville's Todd Cunningham makes most of 1st major-league start with Atlanta Braves". The Huntsville Times. Retrieved April 17, 2016.
  6. ↑ Bowman, Mark (March 1, 2015). "Cunningham confident in ability to compete for CF job". MLB.com. Retrieved April 17, 2016.
  7. ↑ Inabinett, Mark (March 3, 2015). "Jacksonville's Todd Cunningham considers himself a 'safe bet' in centerfield for Atlanta Braves". The Huntsville Times. Retrieved April 17, 2016.
  8. ↑ "Three Hillcats Named to All-Star Team". MILB.com. June 9, 2011. Retrieved April 17, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Hillcats Impressing In Arizona". MILB.com. October 19, 2011. Retrieved April 17, 2016.
  10. ↑ Dorado, Juan (July 30, 2013). "Todd Cunningham Purchased by Atlanta". MILB.com. Retrieved April 17, 2016.
  11. ↑ Medley, Joe (February 9, 2015). "Baseball: Cunningham eyes opportunity after Braves' offseason moves". Anniston Star. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
  12. ↑ Bowman, Mark (January 10, 2013). "Gattis, Gilmartin on Braves' non-roster invitees list". MLB.com. Retrieved April 17, 2016.
  13. ↑ Single, Eric (July 30, 2013). "Braves place R. Johnson on DL; Cunningham recalled". MLB.com. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
  14. ↑ Walton, Carroll Rogers (July 30, 2013). "Cunningham gets first hit after surprise call-up - updated". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
  15. ↑ Single, Eric (August 11, 2013). "Laird coming off DL, Cunningham to Triple-A". MLB.com. Retrieved April 17, 2016.
  16. ↑ "Braves place Beachy on 15-day disabled list". Sportsnet. Associated Press. August 23, 2013. Retrieved April 17, 2016.
  17. ↑ Bowman, Mark; Single, Eric (August 28, 2013). "Uggla returns from DL confident in approach". MLB.com. Retrieved April 17, 2016.
  18. ↑ Bowman, Mark (March 20, 2014). "Bethancourt among five Braves' roster cuts". MLB.com. Retrieved April 17, 2016.
  19. ↑ Stephenson, Creg (April 4, 2015). "Atlanta Braves send ex-JSU star Todd Cunningham to Triple-A Gwinnett as final roster cuts loom". The Huntsville Times. Retrieved April 17, 2016.
  20. ↑ Wine, Stephen (May 15, 2015). "Atlanta's Todd Cunningham has memorable first start". Augusta Chronicle. Associated Press. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
  21. ↑ Bowman, Mark (May 15, 2016). "Cunningham makes immediate impact in debut". MLB.com. Retrieved April 17, 2016.
  22. ↑ "Atlanta Braves' moves include demotion of Bethancourt to Gwinnett". Gwinnett Daily Post. June 14, 2015. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  23. ↑ "Braves deal Chris Johnson to the Cleveland Indians". WRDW-TV. August 7, 2015. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  24. ↑ O'Brien, David (August 8, 2015). "Braves rookie Castro left good impression". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  25. ↑ O'Brien, David (September 8, 2015). "Cunningham recalled by Braves; no Paco in 'pen in September". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  26. ↑ Gonzalez, Alden (October 9, 2015). "Angels claim Cunningham from Braves". MLB.com. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
  27. ↑ Gonzalez, Alden (April 2, 2016). "Angels finalize Opening Day roster". MLB.com. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
  28. ↑ Ardaya, Fabian (June 11, 2016). "Ortega heads to Triple-A to continue development". MLB.com. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  29. ↑ Chiarelli, Mark (June 18, 2016). "Outfielder Cunningham DFA'd by Angels". MLB.com. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  30. ↑ Gonzalez, Alden (July 7, 2016). "Robinson placed on DL with right ankle sprain". MLB.com. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  31. ↑ Gonzalez, Alden (July 26, 2016). "Heaney inspired by Skaggs after TJ surgery". MLB.com. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  32. ↑ "Scribner Crafts Gem in Bees Win". MILB.com. July 31, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2016.
  33. ↑ "Cunningham's Blast Wins It For Salt Lake". MILB.com. August 31, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2016.
  34. ↑ Berry, Adam (November 18, 2016). "Sierra among 4 added to Cards' 40-man roster". MLB.com. Retrieved November 19, 2016.

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