D-backs have agreed to a deal with No. 18 draft pick Kayson Cunninghamreport Jim Callis of MLB.com. Cunningham, a Texas high school shortstop, will receive a $4,581,900 bonus, the full slot value he chose. Arizona also agreed to receive a 3mm prize and receive a 29th overall draft pick Patrick Forbesright-handed in Louisville (also through Calis). At slot machine value it is $191K.
Cunningham, 19, is considered a clear first-round talent and is considered the best pure hitter in the high school rankings this year – if not the best pure hit tool overall. He will give up his commitment to Texas and begin his career. Cunningham ranks No. 8 in the Fanggraphs’ highest ranking prospect at this year’s draft. Baseball USA ranked him at No. 12, while MLB.com took him No. 14, while Keith Law ranked 15th in track and field. ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel ranked him 25th.
The Cunningham report praised his hit rate and above average speed, but there were some questions about whether he was on shortstop or had to move to second base where the offense was higher. He may also generously list 5’10 inches, leading to some questions about his figure, but Cunningham’s speed was hit by the high-speed midfielder.
Forbes is ranked 29th in Fangraphs, 31st on MLB.com, 32nd in sports, 33rd in ESPN and 47th in US baseball. He is a 6’3″ 220-pound right, who used to be a two-way player but now focuses on mounds, where he has 90s high-rise heaters and above-average sliders. Forbes missed out on time due to injury, throwing just 29 innings in 2024. He rebounded at 71 1/3 frames this year, and despite his lack of 4.42 ERA, he radiated nearly 37% of his opponents.
Diamondbacks also agree to make underdeveloped deals with third-round picks Brian Curley and gradually deal with the fourth round Dean Livingston and round 11 Luke Dotson (all callis). Curley’s $700K bonus is $139K check under slot machine value. Livingston’s $1MM bonus is more than his slot machine $611K for $400,000. Dotson received a $500,000 bonus – $350K will count to Arizona’s draft pool. (All draft picks in rounds 11-20 come with a standard $150K slot value, and only money that exceeds that number is the number for the team pool.)
