MLB draft analyst lauds New York Yankees for second round pick

Coming out of the first day of the 2024 MLB Draft, the New York Yankees added some intriguing arms from the collegiate level.

One of them was right-hander Bryce Cunningham out of Vanderbilt at 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds with the No. 53 overall pick in the second round.

As Joel Rueter of Bleacher Report graded every team's picks on Day 1, he lauded the Yankees for their selection of Cunningham.

After an inconsistent first two seasons at Vanderbilt, Cunningham turned a corner last summer in the Cape Cod League with a 2.38 ERA and a 25-to-7 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 22.2 innings. The 6'5", 230-pound right-hander became a rotation regular this spring and went 7-4 with a 4.36 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 96 strikeouts in 84.2 innings. Three quality pitches, good command and a durable frame give him No. 3 starter upside.

Grade: A

Cunningham certainly seems to have some upside, especially with his devastating changeup. To go along with a mid-90s fastball that touches 97 mph, Cunningham also mixes in a mid-80s slider to give him a strong repertoire to develop.

Cunningham seems like the type of pitcher who could thrive in the Yankees' development system, especially if he can fully develop a three-pitch mix.

The Yankees have dealt with some injuries to some of their top pitching prospects so it will be interesting to see what they will get with Cunningham.