The New York Yankees selected Vanderbilt pitcher Bryce Cunningham in the second round of the MLB First-Year Player Draft on Sunday night.
Cunningham was a prep standout at Headland High School.
A 6-foot-5 right-hander, Cunningham posted a 7-4 record with a 4.36 earned-run average in 16 starts in his third season for Vanderbilt in 2023. In 84.2 innings, Cunningham struck out 96 batters and yielded 69 hits and 34 walks.
Cunningham had an 11-8 record with a 4.95 ERA in 46 games with 26 starts during his college career. In 160 innings, he struck out 168 while yielding 135 hits and 75 walks.
At Headland, Cunningham was an All-State selection in 2021 when he struck out 77 in 46 innings and posted an 0.76 ERA.
Cunningham was the second pick in the 2024 draft who played at an Alabama high school or college. The first was Alabama pitcher Ben Hess at No. 26, and he also was chosen by the Yankees.
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at@AMarkG1.
