Brandon Michael Cunniff (born October 7, 1988) is an American

professional baseball Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in baseball league, leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world. Mod ...

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw ...

who is a free agent. He previously played in

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...

(MLB) with the

Atlanta Braves The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. The Braves ...

in 2015.

Career

Cunniff attended

Norco High School Norco High School is California Distinguished School comprehensive public high school serving over 2,000 students from grades 9-12 in Norco, California, United States. It is part of the Corona-Norco Unified School District. The current principal ...

and the

California State University, San Bernardino California State University, San Bernardino (Cal State San Bernardino or CSUSB) is a public research university in San Bernardino, California. Founded in 1965, it is one of the 23 general campuses of the California State University system. The m ...

Florida Marlins

Cunniff was drafted by the

Florida Marlins The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The club's home ballpark is LoanDepot Park. The franc ...

in the 27th round of the

2010 Major League Baseball draft The 2010 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was held on June 7–9, 2010 at the MLB Network Studios in Secaucus, New Jersey. First-round selections The draft order was determined based on the 2009 MLB standings, with the worst team pic ...

out of

California State University San Bernardino California State University, San Bernardino (Cal State San Bernardino or CSUSB) is a public research university in San Bernardino, California. Founded in 1965, it is one of the 23 general campuses of the California State University system. The m ...

. He pitched in the Marlins organization for one year, making 18 appearances before being released.

River City Rascals

From 2011 to 2013 he played in the

Frontier League The Frontier League is a professional independent baseball league with teams in the Northeastern and Midwestern United States and Eastern Canada. Formed in 1993, it is the oldest currently running independent league in the United States. The le ...

, with the

River City Rascals The River City Rascals were a professional baseball team based in O'Fallon, Missouri, in the United States. The Rascals were a member of the West Division of the Frontier League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. From the 1999 ...

Atlanta Braves

Cunniff signed with the

in June 2013. He compiled a 1.99 ERA in 20 appearances at Single–A Lynchburg. The next year, Cunniff made nine more appearances with Lynchburg until a promotion to the Southern League's

Mississippi Braves The Mississippi Braves, or M-Braves as they are referred to locally, are a Minor League Baseball team based in Pearl, Mississippi, a suburb of Jackson. The team is the Double-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and plays in the Southern League. T ...

. At the Double–A level, Cunniff pitched in 33 games, recording a 2.05 ERA. The Braves added Cunniff to the team's 40-man roster on November 19, 2014. He was invited to spring training in 2015, and sent to the minors as one of the final cuts. After

Craig Kimbrel Craig Michael Kimbrel (born May 28, 1988) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the San Diego Padres, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves, Chicag ...

and

Melvin Upton, Jr. Melvin Emanuel Upton Jr. (born August 21, 1984), known as B. J. Upton, is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays / Rays, Atlanta Braves, San Diego Pad ...

were traded to the

San Diego Padres The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1969, the club has won two NL penna ...

on April 6, Cunniff was called up. Cunniff went on the disabled list for the first time in his career on June 26, 2015, after suffering a groin strain. He was designated for assignment on December 18, 2015. Due to a loss of effectiveness arising from a heavy workload in his first Major League Baseball season, Cunniff was not invited to spring training in 2016. Instead, he began the season with the

Gwinnett Braves The Gwinnett Stripers are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. They play their home games at Coolray Field in unincorporated Gwinnett County, Georgia (with a Lawrencevil ...

. After two months, Cunniff was demoted to Mississippi, and later called up on August 3 from the Triple–A level. Cunniff was optioned back to Gwinnett on August 12. He spent the rest of August between the major and minor league levels. He was outrighted on November 2, 2016. He elected free agency five days later on November 7.

Miami Marlins (second stint)

On January 18, 2017, Cunniff signed a minor league contract with the

Miami Marlins The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The club's home ballpark is LoanDepot Park. The franc ...

organization. On April 14, while pitching for the Triple-A

New Orleans Baby Cakes The New Orleans Baby Cakes (formerly the New Orleans Zephyrs) were a Minor League Baseball team in the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. They were located in Metairie, Louisiana, a sub ...

, Cunniff pitched the ninth inning of a combined no-hitter against the

Iowa Cubs The Iowa Cubs are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. They are located in Des Moines, Iowa, and are named for their Major League Baseball (MLB) affiliate. The ...

, with

Scott Copeland Scott Reast Copeland (born December 15, 1987) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2015, and has also played for the New York Mets in MLB and the LG Twi ...

pitching the first 7 innings and

Hunter Cervenka Colby Hunter Cervenka (born January 3, 1990) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Leones de Yucatán of the Mexican League. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins. Career Boston Red S ...

taking care of the eighth. In 36 games for New Orleans, he posted a 4.45 ERA with 54 strikeouts and 3 saves in innings pitched. He elected free agency following the season on November 6.

Bravos de León

On April 5, 2018, Cunniff signed with the

Bravos de León The Bravos de León (English: León Braves) are a professional baseball team in the Mexican League based in León, Guanajuato, Mexico. History Cachorros de León (1979–80) Mexican League baseball in León began in 1979 when the Alijador ...

of the

Mexican League The Mexican League (, ) is a professional baseball league based in Mexico and the oldest running professional league in the country. The league has 18 teams organized in two divisions, North and South. Teams play 114 games each season. Five te ...

. He was released on July 3, 2018.

New Britain Bees

On July 14, 2018, Cunniff signed with the

New Britain Bees The New Britain Bees are an American collegiate summer baseball team based in New Britain, Connecticut. They are a member of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL), a wood-bat league with teams in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connectic ...

of the Atlantic League. He became a free agent following the 2018 season.

Tigres de Quintana Roo

On February 19, 2019, Cunniff signed with the

Tigres de Quintana Roo The Quintana Roo Tigers (), formerly known as the Mexico (City) Tigers () are a professional baseball team in the Mexican League based in Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico. The team is part of the Southern Division (). The team has won twelve champio ...

of the

. He was released on April 25, 2019.

Olmecas de Tabasco

On May 17, 2019, Cunniff signed with the

Olmecas de Tabasco The Olmecas de Tabasco (English: Tabasco Olmecs) are a professional baseball team in the Mexican League based in Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico. Their home ballpark is the Estadio Centenario 27 de Febrero. The Olmecas won their only Mexican Leag ...

of the

. He was released on July 16, 2019.

Lincoln Saltdogs

On January 21, 2022, Cunniff signed with the

Lincoln Saltdogs The Lincoln Saltdogs are a professional baseball team based in Lincoln, Nebraska, in the United States. The Saltdogs are in the American Association of Professional Baseball, an official Partner League of Major League Baseball. Since the 2001 sea ...

of the

American Association American Association may refer to: Baseball * American Association (1882–1891), a major league active from 1882 to 1891 * American Association (1902–1997), a minor league active from 1902 to 1962 and 1969 to 1997 * American Association of Profe ...

.American Association 2022 Transactions
/ref> In 2022, Cunniff recorded a 1–1 record and 5.11 ERA in 11 appearances with the Saltdogs. On June 16, 2022, Cunniff was released by the Saltdogs.

References

External links

Cal State San Bernardino Coyotes bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cunniff, Brandon 1988 births Living people American expatriate baseball players in Mexico Atlanta Braves players Baseball players from Arcadia, California Bravos de León players Cal State San Bernardino Coyotes baseball players Charros de Jalisco players Gulf Coast Braves players Gulf Coast Marlins players Gwinnett Braves players Jamestown Jammers players Lynchburg Hillcats players Major League Baseball pitchers Mexican League baseball pitchers Mississippi Braves players CategorY:New Britain Bees players New Orleans Baby Cakes players NMJC Thunderbirds baseball players Norco High School alumni Olmecas de Tabasco players Peoria Javelinas players River City Rascals players Southern Illinois Miners players Tigres de Quintana Roo players Venados de Mazatlán players Mayos de Navojoa players