Q & A with Chris Cunningham
Q: Were you drafted by the team that you thought would take you and what team was talking to you the most in the time leading up to the draft?
A: The first team that contacted me was the Rays. Leading up to the draft the Braves and the Cubs showed interest. I had a private workout at Wrigley Field and my collegiate coach had mentioned that the Braves had come out often. Truthfully, I always thought the Rays would select me and I am happy they did.
Q: What was the biggest adjustment you had to make during your first season in making the transition to being a professional baseball player?
A: Coming out of college I was a catcher and a third baseman. I struggled a lot with my outfield play. Also coming from a full sixty game college season it was difficult to stay strong with the bat in August.
Q: You were a member of both the 2004 and 2005 P-Rays' teams. What factors made the 2005 team (third best record in the league) so much better than the 2004 team (worst record in the ten-team Appalachian League)?
A: The 2005 team played with a lot more confidence from day one. We led the league in errors in 2004 and in 2005 our defense was solid. In 2005 our starting pitching got quality innings and we had better and more timely hitting.
Q: You were a productive player on the 2004 P-Rays but your numbers really took off in 2005. Your batting average went up by 70 points from .259 to .329 and you had better offensive numbers in almost every category in 2005. To what factors can you attribute this rapid improvement to in your second year in professional baseball?
A: Coming off a season where I didn't have good numbers, I made a strong effort to get stronger in the weight room. Starting the season, I was more focused and got off to a good start and continued to put a good swing on the ball and hit good pitches.
Q: Jamie Nelson was your manager both years you were in Princeton. In what ways did playing for the same manager play in your better results for 2005? Did he see something or contribute some "pointers" that may have helped increase your offensive production in 2005?
A: Jamie Nelson is a great coach and was a pleasure to play for. In our two years he was able to recognize my strengths and help me understand how to use them to my advantage.
Q: Other than Princeton, what was your favorite ballpark in the Appalachian League in which to play and why?
A: Johnson City was a unique place to play. It had an old school look with really high walls and weird dimensions. I loved the atmosphere and I did well there and that helped.
Q: Is playing a corner outfield position the quickest route to your advancement in baseball? What other positions have you played in the past and would any of these positions be in your future again?
A: In high school I played shortstop and third base. In college I played third and in my sophomore year I was a catcher. I feel that I keep getting better in the outfield and hopefully that is my ticket to the majors.
Q: At this time, which one of your teammates from the 2005 Princeton Devil Rays do you feel is the most likely to be a successful major league player and why?
A: Matt Walker (pitcher) and Andrew Lopez (outfielder) are big time players. Walker has an electric fastball with a nasty "deuce (curve ball)." Lopez is just a gritty player who's going to excel at everything he does. He's a big time hitter.
Q: The Elizabethton Twins beat the Danville Braves in the 2005 Appalachian League championship playoffs. Would that have been your playoff prediction between these two teams?
A: Yes, the Twins were a great club with quality players all over their roster. The Braves were talented, but the Twins were a little stronger.
Q: Who is your favorite major league player and who have been the biggest influences in your development as a baseball player to this point in your career?
A: Andre "The Hawk" Dawson was the man in Chicago in the late 80's and early 90's. My father and brother have been a big influence in my career. Growing up they taught me everything about competing and excelling to be great.
Q: Are you a goal-oriented person and have you set any goals for yourself in relation to the 2006 season?
A: In 2006, I hope to make a full-season club and make a jump at some point during the season. That was my goal last year and it will stay the same until I reach my dream.
Q: Looking back on it now, was Princeton a good place for you "to get your feet wet" and start your professional career and why?
A: Princeton was a fantastic place to start. Learning from Jamie Nelson (manager) and Manny Castillo (hitting coach) was great. They helped me mature as a player as well as a person and it has made me a better ball player. Getting to know them as well as the wonderful people in the town was special and I am happy to have experienced Princeton.