East Carolina University has produced wonders for the Toronto Blue Jays in recent years.

Trey Yesavage, the right-hander who dominated the farm system in 2025 and is now dealing in the big leagues, is an alum from the Pirates program. On top of Yesavage, the Jays are also reaping the rewards of Carter Cunningham, a corner outfielder/first baseman who is off to a roaring start to the 2026 season.

Cunningham began the campaign in High-A Vancouver, returning to the Northwest League for another season after suiting up in 102 games for the Canadians last season. It’s a familiar feeling for the left-handed bat, and it’s something that he credits for his early success in a new season.

“I think the comfort level of just playing against the same teams, on the same fields and the same home field, and also playing for the same manager, has helped with my strong start,” said Cunningham, speaking to Blue Jays Nation. “Last year was my first full pro season after being drafted, and even when I played for a bit in Dunedin following the draft, you don’t really know what to expect overall. Now that I have that full year under my belt, it really helped me come into this season having a better idea of how to navigate what is coming ahead. It’s a marathon here, not a sprint.”

For the Canadians last season, Cunningham posted a .220/.346/.414 slash line with a .761 OPS. He ranked second on the team with his 16 home runs and drove in 59 RBIs with 15 doubles mixed in between. Fast forward to this season, and Cunningham is finding early success at the plate.

The 25-year-old has produced a .252./.394/.517 slash line with a stellar .910 OPS, driving in 30 RBIs with a Northwest League high nine home runs. The Virginia product has also produced a 148 wRC+ and increased his ISO and BABIP to .265 and .345, respectively.

Cunningham knows what the Jays organization expects from him at the plate, and it’s helped shape his identity as a player.

“Just knowing who I am as a player and knowing what this organization wants from me is playing a big part in my mindset at the plate,” explained Cunningham. “They (Jays) expect me to do damage, and every time I am up there, I have the mentality that I am in scoring position, and that I need to get my best swing off every time based on the situation in front of me. Understanding what’s in front of me and just doing what I can to help the team win.”

For his strong start, Cunningham earned the Northwest Player of the Week for April 6 to 12. He racked up 10 hits with three home runs and 10 RBIs against the Eugene Emeralds, becoming the first C’s player to earn the honour after the organization took home 11 weekly honours last season.

The left-handed bat then continued on that hot stretch to earn the Northwest League Player of the Month Award for April.

“It’s great to earn those honours,” said Cunningham. “It means a ton to me and just shows how much work went into the offseason to get to that level early in the year. There were a lot of things that I experimented with in the second half of last season, and I just kept on working on those aspects into the offseason. The goal is to keep up that consistency, because having a hot start is great, but I need to keep that up in June, in September, and throughout the whole season. Just keeping that ‘it’s a marathon, not a sprint’ mindset.

Cunningham also has the opportunity to play in one of the only professional stadiums North of the border, playing his home games at Nat Bailey Stadium. The building has stood the test of time since 1951, and while it has undergone a few transformations and facelifts over the years, the energy of the crowd and the stadium is not lost on the players.

“Vancouver is a phenomenal city and just playing at Nat Bailey is such an honour,” explained Cunningham. “The fans bring such a great energy every home game, and I am just blessed to be playing here every day.”

While Cunningham enjoys playing in the heart of Vancouver, if the utilityman continues to contribute in meaningful ways for the Canadians, he could be seeing a promotion to the opposite coast in his near future. His nine home runs and 30 walks have him sitting third across all qualified Blue Jays minor league players, and his OPS has him sitting in the sixth spot with considerably more plate appearances than those ahead of him.

For Cunningham, he takes each series one game at a time, but he’s also looking to prove that he can be more than just a power bat at the plate and shape that identity that has followed him early in his pro career.

“Honestly, one of my personal goals is to have a 20/20 season,” explained Cunningham. “I know many don’t see me as a speed guy, but I believe I can be both a power guy and a beneficial runner on the base paths. I am not limited to just one thing, and I want to prove it to myself and the organization that I can be a more well-rounded player.”

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