MVN - Most Valuable Network

Haren’s Yield: Aaron Cunningham

In this, the final of six profiles of the players arriving in the Dan Haren trade, I’ll profile Aaron Cunningham. Already done: Carlos Gonzalez, Brett Anderson, Dana Eveland, Greg Smith and Chris Carter.

Cunningham, 21, is another unproven young talent who should fill in nicely in the thick of the A’s MiLB system. Drafted in the sixth round of the 2005 Draft out of Everett Community College, the young outfielder has advanced quickly due to his mature stroke at the plate. He was traded from the Chicago White Sox to the Arizona Diamondbacks in mid-2007, as was Chris Carter.

In 2006, Cunningham was ranked as the Sox’s 6th best prospect, and the D-back’s seventh best in 2007. At 5′11”, 195 pounds, Cunningham hits and throws right. But it’s his hitting that attracted the A’s attention.

2006: Kannapolis Intimidators (A - White Sox Organization)

• 95 games, 341 at-bats –> .305/.386./.496 with 11 HR, 41 RBI and 72:34 (K:BB)

2007: Winston-Salem Warthogs (A - White Sox Organization), Visalia Oaks (A - Diamondbacks Organization) and Mobile BayBears (AA - Diamondbacks Organization)

• 127 games, 493 at-bats –> .308/.375./.509 with 16 HR, 77 RBI and 89:51 (K:BB)

2007: AFL 

• 24 games, 86 at-bats –> .267/.385./.360 with 2 HR, 15 RBI and 20:11 (K:BB)

In this respect, Cunningham may be compared to the A’s own Danny Putnam; though, the A’s newest MiLB prospect is a better all-around athlete. He may not have the speed to play center field, but he has been compared to the Giants’ Aaron Rowand. If he does not reach that ceiling, Cunningham will likely serve as a fourth outfielder, as he lacks the 20-30 home run potential required of a corner outfielder. Either way, it seems Billy Beane and company are sure Cunningham will reach the bigs.

Here is Scout.com’s Take: Is he the next Eric Byrnes?

ESPN’s Keith Law:

Aaron Cunningham projects as a very good fourth outfielder who can play all three outfield spots and who can be a pinch-runner off the bench, but he isn’t quite good enough in center to start there and doesn’t have the power to profile in a corner spot.

Baseball America:

Cunningham went unnoticed and undrafted out of high school, but the White Sox were rewarded in their investment of a sixth-round pick in 2005, as Cunningham has done nothing but hit since leaving Everett (Wash.) CC. Hitting comes easy to the muscular, compact Cunningham, but at times he’s a bit too aggressive at the plate. Though he runs and throws well, Cunningham already is limited to left field because he gets poor jumps and lacks throwing accuracy.

Like the other prospects arriving in the vaunted Dan Haren-trade, Cunningham is talented, but inexperienced. While he does not pose the same risk of Carlos Gonzalez, Cunningham’s ceiling is limited. He just seems to be one of those guys (Rowand, David Eckstein, etc.) who find a way to stick on an MLB roster. But the young outfielder is likely at least two years away from the show. He should spend 2008 with Midland (AA), though a fast start may earn him an even faster call-up to Sacramento (AAA).

For Cunningham to be a memorable part of the incoming package for Haren, he needs to become one of two players.

• The Corner Outfielder with Power: His aforementioned statistics are impressive. He’s batted .300 nearly everywhere, but hitting for power is a must if he is to displace one of the other A’s corner outfield prospects.
• The Center Fielder with Gusto: If he can work on his outfield positioning and quickness to the ball, Cunningham may end up being capable of playing center field (similarly to Jeremy Reed). But, in addition, he’ll have to be the type of guy who can steal bases, get on base and continue to hit for average.

I’m not usually the numbers guy (we have our own Ryan Armburst who specializes in that); but, it’s hard not to like Cunningham and his future. With plus makeup and average skills across the board, he is likely to leap frog Richie Robnett, Danny Putnam, Javier Herrera and other A’s outfield prospects.

As a Rockhound in 2008, Cunningham may feature this line:

• .298 AVG - .370 OBP with 16 HR, 65 RBI

Now that we have finished our prospect previews, let’s take a look at where all the incoming players are likely to start their A’s careers.

1. OF Carlos Gonzalez –> Sacramento (AAA)
2. LHP Brett Anderson –> Stockton (A)
3. LHP Dana Eveland –> Oakland (MLB)
4. LHP Greg Smith –> Sacramento (AAA)
5. 1B Chris Carter –> Stockton (A)
6. OF Aaron Cunningham –> Midland (AA)

This entry was posted on Saturday, December 29th, 2007 at 1:27 pm and is filed under Midland, Sacramento, Prospects, scouting report, Trades. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.