Carson Fulmer

WTM’s PLAYER PROFILE

2015
R:  0-0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 1.0 IP, 0.0 BB/9, 9.0 K/9
A+:  0-0-0, 2.05 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 22.0 IP, 3.7 BB/9, 10.2 K/9

Fulmer made eight starts at high A after signing and had little trouble there.  Baseball America ranked him second in the White Sox’ system after the season.

2016
AA:  4-9-0, 4.76 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 87.0 IP, 5.3 BB/9, 9.3 K/9
AAA:  2-1-0, 3.94 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 16.0 IP, 2.8 BB/9, 7.9 K/9
MLB:  0-2-0, 8.49 ERA, 1.63 WHIP, 11.2 IP, 5.4 BB/9, 7.7 K/9

Although Fulmer made it to the majors in his second season, he didn’t have an outstanding year.  He struggled much of the time in AA, with the main problem being control.  The White Sox brought him up in July and he made eight shaky appearances out of their bullpen, then he went to AAA.  BA dropped him to seventh in the team’s system.

2017
AAA:  7-9-0, 5.79 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, 126.0 IP, 4.6 BB/9, 6.9 K/9
MLB:  3-1-0, 3.86 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 23.1 IP, 5.0 BB/9, 7.3 K/9

Fulmer spent most of the season in AAA and had a rough time there, a lot of it due to walks and gopher balls.  He gave up 18 of the latter.  The White Sox brought him up for one start in August, then brought him back up for September.  He pitched better in the majors, although his control wasn’t good.  BA rated him 13th in Chicago’s system.

2018
AAA:  5-6-0, 5.32 ERA, 1.64 WHIP, 67.2 IP, 5.5 BB/9, 8.2 K/9
MLB:  2-4-0, 8.07 ERA, 1.89 WHIP, 32.1 IP, 6.7 BB/9, 8.1 K/9

The Sox had Fulmer in their rotation at the start of the season and he did decently through six games, but he got torched in his last three starts.  In the majors he allowed a home run every four innings.  He went to AAA, where he eventually moved to relief.  He didn’t do especially well there, either, as his control continued to be a problem.

2019
AAA:  1-2-1, 4.76 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 34.0 IP, 5.6 BB/9, 13.5 K/9
MLB:  1-2-0, 6.26 ERA, 1.68 WHIP, 27.1 IP, 6.6 BB/9, 8.2 K/9

Chicago shuttled Fulmer back and forth between AAA and the majors.  Other than two AAA starts, he pitched in relief all year.  He continued to walk a lot of hitters and gave up nearly a home run every five innings in the majors.

2020
MLB (Det):  0-0-0, 6.75 ERA, 1.65 WHIP, 6.2 IP, 4.1 BB/9, 9.5 K/9

Before the shortened season started, the White Sox designated Fulmer for assignment and the Tigers claimed him off waivers.  He pitched in relief for Detroit and continued to struggle, although his walk and K rates improved.  In late August, the Tigers dfa’d him and the Pirates claimed him.

Fulmer has no options, so the Pirates will have to keep him on the active roster.  He’ll obviously be a project for the Pirates.  He’s made little if any progress since reaching the upper minors and it’s questionable whether he really has any upside beyond fifth starter or middle reliever.

UPDATE:  Just over a week after claiming Fulmer, the Pirates designated him for assignment to create roster space.