All four Blue Jays’ “A” affiliates will have started their season come Friday.
One prospect who’ll be making his first full-season debut is Carter Cunningham, who was drafted in the 10th round of the 2024 draft out of East Carolina University.
The outfielder was the second player the Jays drafted out of ECU in the 2024 draft as they also selected his teammate, Trey Yesavage, with their first-round pick. Starting his collegiate career in 2022, Cunningham slashed .227/.317/.386 with three home runs in 106 plate appearances.
In 2023, the outfielder became a regular and slashed .317/.429/.522 with eight home runs in 238 plate appearances, with a 13.9 BB% and a 19.7 K% for a 131 wRC+. Entering his draft year in 2024, Cunningham slashed .367/.464/.653 with 17 home runs in 307 plate appearances, with the same BB% and K% of 12.4%.
With the 307th overall pick on day two of the 2024 draft, the Blue Jays selected the outfielder. In the final months of the 2024 season, Cunningham played for the Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays, where he slashed .197/.381/.316 with two home runs in 105 plate appearances, with an 18.1 BB% and a 21.9 K% for a 113 wRC+.
He only played in two games during Spring Training, but Cunningham had a notable moment as he hit a walk-off home run on March 17 to walk off the Yankees.
To begin the 2025 season, Cunningham will make the jump to High-A with the Vancouver Canadians. He should find regular playing time with Minor League Baseball’s only Canadian team.
If his collegiate stats and early professional career have shown anything, Cunningham has a lot of pop in his bat with the ability to avoid strikeouts and take walks. Time will tell if he develops into a player the Jays can use on their roster, but he’s also shown positional versatility, playing in both corner outfields as well as first base.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. They can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.