Todd Cunningham
Thomas David "Todd" Cunningham III is an American former professional baseball left fielder. He played in Major League Baseball for the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Angels.
High school and college
Cunningham was born in Jacksonville, Alabama, on March 20, 1989, to David and Brenda Cunningham. 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. 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 2008 [NCAA Division I baseball season|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 [NCAA Division I baseball season|2009 season], he played collegiate summer baseball for the Falmouth Commodores of the Cape Cod League, where he led the league in batting average, hits, and on-base percentage. He was inducted into the CCBL Hall of Fame in 2024. Cunningham was a Baseball America preseason All-American for the 2010 season. In 171 games over three seasons with the Gamecocks, he hit.346 with 22 HR, 118 RBI and 36 SB.Professional career
Atlanta Braves
Cunningham was drafted in the second round, 53rd overall, in the 2008 [Major League Baseball draft] by the Atlanta Braves, and he signed. He was assigned to the Single-A Rome Braves as an outfielder. In 65 appearances for the affiliate, Cunningham hit.260 with one home run, 20 RBI, and seven SB. Cunningham spent the 2011 season with the High-A Lynchburg Hillcats, where in 87 games, he hit.257 with four home runs, 20 RBI and 14 stolen bases. He was named to the Carolina League All-Star team, joining fellow Hillcats Joey Terdoslavich, Andrelton Simmons, and Adam Milligan. After the season, he played with the Surprise Saguaros of the Arizona Fall League.Cunningham spent the 2012 campaign with the Double-A Mississippi Braves, where in 120 games, he hit.309 with three home runs, 51 RBI, and 24 stolen bases. Cunningham was a mid-season and post-season All-Star. After the year, he was announced the Braves' Organizational Player of the Year. Cunningham was invited to spring training as a non-roster invitee. Cunningham began 2013 with the Triple-A Gwinnett Braves, where he hit.279 with two home runs, 30 RBI, and 18 stolen bases in 99 games before being called up.
Cunningham was promoted to the major leagues for the first time on July 30, 2013, to replace the injured Reed Johnson, and recorded his first career major league hit and subsequent run the same day against the Colorado Rockies season|Colorado Rockies]. Cunningham was optioned to the minors on August 11, having made six appearances in his first major league stint. 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. He was invited to spring training in 2014, and sent down to Gwinnett on March 20. Cunningham spent the entire 2014 season in the minors. He was again invited to spring training in 2015, but not recalled until May 15, 2015, to make his first major league start against the Miami Marlins season|Miami Marlins]. On June 14, Cunningham was optioned to Gwinnett, and returned to the majors for a one-day stint on August 7. He was recalled on September 8 and spent the final three weeks of the season in Atlanta.