2.53 Atlanta Braves - Todd Cunningham, 3B, Jacksonville State

The Braves spent the 53rd pick on Todd Cunningham of Jacksonville State.

Follow the jump for his pre-draft report.

Todd Cunningham   Position: OF   School: Jacksonville State   State: AL   Year: Jr.   Height: 6’1’’   Weight: 205

Bats: B   Throws: R   Birth Date: 3/20/89   Seiler Rating: 1C3   Last Drafted: Never

Todd Cunningham is a solid all-around outfielder from Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama. He originally attended Jacksonville High School in the same town, and he came to Jacksonville State as an unheralded recruit. He started immediately once he hit campus, and has undergone a transformation from being a high on-base hitter with little power to a strong hitter with power, average, and speed. His big breakout came last summer on the Cape, when he showed excellent tools en route to winning the league’s batting title, a big accomplishment for a relatively unknown small-school player. He has received more attention as a result this spring, and while the results aren’t exactly up to the level most expected, he’s done well enough to not drop too much draft stock. At the plate, he flashes solid hitting tools, especially his hit tool itself. It flashes above-average to plus, and when he’s not depended upon to provide big power in the lineup, he fits well as a gap-to-gap hitter capable of hitting .300 with 30 doubles. His power is rather fringe-average to average, and that shouldn’t be his game, but he’s shown that he can hit for power when it’s necessary. He’s an above-average to plus runner, and he’s turned that into game speed this spring, making him a solid overall offensive threat. Defensively, he’s still a left fielder at JSU, but profiles better for center, where his fringe-average arm and above-average range can take hold. He might need an adjustment period, but he’ll do fine there. Overall, he looks like a solid starting center field prospect, and he should go in the supplemental first round or second round.