Former top draft pick of White Sox has a long road back to the Majors. Can the young pitcher have a bounce-back season in 2019?
Carson Fulmer was drafted with the eighth overall pick in the 2015 MLB draft by the White Sox. Fulmer had solid success as a starting pitcher and reliever at Vanderbilt University and made his major league debut in 2016 with a strikeout of future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols.
Since making his major league debut, Fulmer has struggled to maintain consistent success not only in the Majors but in the minors as well. Last season, Fulmer didn’t perform well when given the opportunity to start with the Sox and when he was demoted to Triple-A, he also experienced struggles before ending the year on a good note.
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Entering this upcoming season, Fulmer will have a tall hill to climb in order to make it back to the Majors, but he doesn’t feel like he’s close to being done. According to Scott Merkin of whitesox.com, Fulmer hasn’t lost any confidence despite having a career 6.68 ERA through 24 major league appearances.
When speaking with Merkin, Fulmer mentioned he did very well in college but he wants to be something more than just a first-round draft pick. Fulmer wants to be a 10-year veteran in MLB and is focused on not stopping until he reaches that goal.
"“People will have their own opinions. I have my own opinion and I have to stick to it. We have a great fan base, very supportive fan base that wants to win, and I get it. We have to go out there and put up quality starts and get guys out from a bullpen perspective. It drives me as well. I pitched really well in college to be able to get the opportunity, but I don’t want to just be a first-round pick. I want to be a 10-plus-year veteran pitcher in the big leagues. I won’t stop until that happens.” Carson Fulmer"
Despite struggling last season in his stint with the Sox and when he returned to Charlotte, Fulmer ended the year with some good appearances out of the Knights bullpen. After being transitioned to a relief pitcher with Charlotte, Fulmer allowed no earned runs through 12 of his final 16 appearances with the Knights.
Fulmer also cut down his walks as he issued just one free pass in his final nine appearances of the season with Charlotte in 2018. The 25-year-old expressed to Merkin that he’s ready for Spring Training and he’s worked the hardest this offseason than he ever has. Fulmer mentioned he has a great opportunity to make the Sox out of Spring Training. Only time will tell if Fulmer can bounce-back in 2019 to live up to his potential.