# Todd Cunningham

Thomas David "Todd" Cunningham III (born March 20, 1989) is an American former professional baseball left fielder. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) 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 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 season, he played collegiate summer baseball for the Falmouth Commodores of the Cape Cod League (CCBL), where he led the league in batting average (.378), 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 MLB Draft by the Atlanta Braves, and he signed. He was assigned to Single-A Rome as an outfielder. In 65 games, he hit .260 with 1 HR, 20 RBI and 7 SB. Cunningham played 2011 with A-Advanced Lynchburg, where in 87 games, he hit .257 with 4 HR, 20 RBI and 14 SB. 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 played 2012 with Double-A Mississippi, where in 120 games, he hit .309 with 3 HR, 51 RBI and 24 SB. 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 Triple-A Gwinnett, where he hit .279 with 2 HR, 30 RBI and 18 SB in 99 games before being called up.
He was called up 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. 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. 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.

### Los Angeles Angels

Cunningham was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on October 9, 2015. He was outrighted to the minors on April 2, 2016. On June 11, Cunningham was recalled for the first time in 2016. Seven days later, Cunningham was designated for assignment and subsequently sent to the Triple A Salt Lake Bees. He was recalled on July 6, and again designated for assignment on July 26. Cunningham spent the rest of the season with the Bees.

### St. Louis Cardinals

On November 18, 2016, Cunningham signed a minor league deal with the St. Louis Cardinals that included an invitation to spring training.

### Los Angeles Dodgers

On July 10, 2017, Cunningham was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for cash considerations. In 20 games for the Triple–A Oklahoma City Dodgers, he batted .339/.417/.468 with no home runs and 4 RBI. Cunningham elected free agency following the season on November 6.

### Pittsburgh Pirates

On December 8, 2017, Cunningham signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

### Chicago White Sox

On April 26, 2018, Cunningham was traded to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for a player to be named later. He was released on May 15, 2018.

### Sugar Land Skeeters

On May 29, 2018, Cunningham signed with the Sugar Land Skeeters of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. In 2 games he went 0-1 at the plate.

### Kansas City T-Bones

On June 1, 2018, Cunningham was traded to the Kansas City T-Bones of the American Association. He was released prior to the 2019 season on February 19. In 83 games he hit .333/.437/.484 with 4 home runs, 47 RBIs and 17 stolen bases.
He was then hired by the Los Angeles Angels to be their Defensive Coach at Inland Empire 66ers for 2019 season.