CIF/RHP Brady Cunningham (Brother Rice, 2027) has been one of the top players in the state the second he set foot in his high school, and he has done nothing but continue to elevate himself throughout the years to further cement that status. Currently ranked No. 4 in the state and No. 104 nationally, Cunningham is one of the top right-handed bats across the country with premium power and minimal swing/miss, packing a huge punch at the plate that should allow him to continue to find success as he climbs through the baseball ranks. He’s also a premium athlete despite being highly physical at 6-foot-2, 217-pounds - boasting a 6.67 in the 60 with a peak run-speed of 22.2 mph and peak vertical jump of 30.3”. On top of all of that, he’s also a high-level arm on the mound that will work his fastball up to 91 mph with a curveball/changeup mix to pair.

He’s primed for a big spring ahead as Brother Rice boasts one, if not the top 2027 groups in the state. He’s coming off a year in which he earned Second Team All-State honors from us after he hit .395 with 18 doubles, four triples, four home runs, 29 RBIs, 39 runs scored, 29 walks and 10 stolen bases. He also twirled 53 innings on the mound with a perfect 6-0 record, 58 strikeouts to 18 walks, a 1.85 ERA and 1.094 WHIP.

We recently had the chance to talk to Brady about his recruitment process, along with some other fun topics, below. 

Our Q&A 

Prep Baseball: What were your expectations about the recruiting process? What were you looking for out of a college program to continue your baseball career at?

Brady: My expectations going into the recruiting process were not crazy high. My mindset was to just absorb all the information as it came and to take everything one step at a time. When looking at schools, I focused on those with a very competitive baseball program and strong academics. 

PB: Did location or distance from home play a factor in your decision?

B: I think that the distance was obviously something to think about, but it was not a deciding factor when I made my decision.

PB: When did the recruiting process really start to heat up for you? Where did the school you committed to first see you play?

B: The recruiting process really started to heat up for me after the Preseason All-State: Underclass and during my high school season at Brother Rice. I feel like I was able to showcase all the gains I made during the off-season, and coaches began to take notice. Texas A & M first saw me at a tournament over the summer and then again at Future Games.

PB: What do you like most about the program you chose, and what were the key factors in making your decision?

B: I love the coaching philosophy and staff at Texas A & M. These were both key factors in making my decision. For me, it's about getting better every day by being challenged, while also having a solid connection with the coaches. Another key factor was finding a school that was highly academic. Thankfully, Texas A & M is elite in every one of these areas.

PB: What other schools were on your short list before you made your final decision?

B: In addition to Texas A & M, the other schools on my short list were University of Texas, University of Kentucky, University of Arizona, University of Louisville, and University of Illinois.

PB: Who is the best player you have faced in your state? What about them makes for a tough opponent?

B: The best player that I’ve faced in Illinois is Brandon Shannon. He's a tough opponent because his fastball has a ton of carry and he executes all of his off-speed pitches, which keeps players off balance.  

PB: At what point in your career did you realize you were a college-caliber player and became serious about taking your game to the next level?

B: I think my eighth grade year is when I realized that taking my game to the next level was a realistic possibility. From that point on, I just put my head down and went to work. That dedication is why I am where I am today. 

PB: What advice would you give to young baseball players striving to get where you are?

B: I think the best advice I can offer is to be where your feet are. The only thing you can control is the present. Don't let the past define you or let the future distract you. I think another word of advice would be to allow yourself to fail. This is one of the hardest games on the planet and you are going to fail. You have to learn to embrace that failure and use it to create a better version of yourself.

PB: What is the most memorable moment in your baseball career to this point?

B: The most memorable moment in my baseball career so far has to be when I was the starting pitcher in the Super-Sectionals last year. It was the loudest atmosphere I've ever played in. After a rocky start in the first, I settled in and threw three consecutive shut out innings. Also hit a triple. We won the game to move on to state.  

PB: Preview your high school team's season for us. How do you feel your team will be?

B: Our schedule at Brother Rice this year is loaded with competition. We are playing in the Bishop Gorman Invitational in Las Vegas and also traveling to Kentucky to play some high level teams. I know we will be very competitive this year. We have guys that can execute their role at a high level which will bring us a lot of success. 

PB: How did the Future Games and the Illinois State Games affect your recruitment process? Did you receive more attention following the events

B: Participating in Future Games was a huge benefit for me. It allowed me to compete on a big stage and be seen by nearly all of the top college coaches in the country. I was able to show what I bring to the table against the best players in my class. It also opened up a lot of doors to schools that were high on my list and some I never even considered.

PB: If you could steal any tool or quality from another player in the state, what would it be and who would it be from?

B: If I could steal any tool or quality from a player in Illinois I would probably steal Anthony Cartolano's ability to do a backflip after a big win.

PB: Who is the next talented young player to keep an eye on out of your high school or travel program?

B: I think the next talented young player to keep an eye on in the Sparks organization is Collin Lawlor. His ability to command his pitches and have great composure on the mound is what sets him apart from other players his age.  

PB: Did Prep Baseball assist in your recruiting? Whether it be through a showcase, tournament coverage, tweets, etc? If yes, please explain. 

B: I think attending the Prep Baseball showcases and tournaments definitely helped me during my recruiting process because it allowed coaches to have updated performance stats. I also think the tweets were of great assistance because it gave a visual representation of what was going on, not just the data.

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