White Sox need help in its bullpen and Carson Fulmer has been impressive in his last three starts with Double-A Birmingham Barons. Fulmer pitched a scoreless inning in the All-Star Futures Game.
The White Sox announced on Friday the promotion of its top prospect, Carson Fulmer. The 2015 first-round pick (8th overall) is expected to join the White Sox in Anaheim. Fulmer has spent this season with Double-A Birmingham Barons, and through 17 games started he’s 4-9 with a 4.76 ERA.
Fulmer got off to a rocky start in his first season with the Barons, as he struggled mightily with control to begin the season. The 22-year old right-handed pitcher started the season giving up five earned runs in just 2.2 innings pitched for the Barons on April 8. Through the first two months of the season, Fulmer didn’t pitch more than six innings in any outing.
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During this span, Fulmer had a hard time preventing the opposition from reaching base via walks. Fulmer allowed eight walks in a May 11 start against the Jacksonville Suns, and seven walks on May 27 against the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. Although it appeared Fulmer would have a hard time adjusting to Double-A hitters as a starter, Fulmer started to pitch better beginning in June.
On June 9 against the Mobile Biscuits, Fulmer recorded double-digit strikeouts for the first time this season with 10. In that game, Fulmer would pitch 6.2 innings, his longest outing of the season at that point. Fulmer’s best start of the season so far was on June 26 against the Biscuits. Fulmer pitched seven scoreless innings with seven strikeouts, and just two walks allowed.
In his last start with the Barons, Fulmer pitched five innings while giving up two earned runs and recording 10 strikeouts. With his walk totals decreasing over June and into July, Fulmer was an easy choice to represent the White Sox on Team USA in the All-Star Futures game on July 10. In the game, Fulmer pitched a scoreless inning with two strikeouts and a groundout.
The White Sox haven’t announced if Fulmer will start in place of Carlos Rodon who is on 15-day disabled list after spraining his wrist on July 8. However, Fulmer would certainly give the White Sox bullpen an immediate boost. While the White Sox have been known to promote its top pitchers through the farm system quickly such as Chris Sale and Rodon, Fulmer has the chance to stay with the team if he can succeed in getting major league hitters out consistently.
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Fulmer could be a nice weapon to have for the White Sox bullpen as they began the second half of 2016 in Anaheim against the Angels on Friday. If Fulmer can limit the opposition from scoring in his relief appearances, the White Sox could certainly benefit and remain in contention. There will be learning curves along the way, but for now the White Sox and Fulmer appear to be headed in the right direction.