I think everyone might’ve given up on Carson Fulmer too soon. I for one gave up on him last year, making a point to highlight his struggles whenever I came across them (frequently), and at 25 years old, the dreaded bust label looks like it’s beginning to stick.
To be fair, the stats say you’re probably right. In 2018, he posted an 8.07 ERA in 32.1 innings of major league work and didn’t fare much better in Charlotte, posting a 5.32 ERA in 67.2 innings, with respective FIPS of 7.27 and 5.28. But Fulmer is doing all he can to prove the general consensus wrong.
Fulmer spent the off-season at the Driveline baseball. For those that don’t know Driveline, it’s a data-driven baseball training institute that has been credited with turning many a career around. Cleveland Indians pitcher Trevor Bauer is a devout Driveliner, proclaiming its virtues to all who listen, and all its takes is a quick Google search to see the countless number of baseball players turning to Driveline to improve.
So as we enter Spring “best shape of their life” Training, I know I’ll be watching Carson Fulmer to see if Driveline Baseball will have enough success project to celebrate.
With that, here’s what you need to know this week.
Winter Leagues
Our own Mike Rankin recapped the 2018/19 Winter League League and how the represented White Sox performed. Here are some of his insights.
Spring Training non-roster invitees
The White Sox invited several prospects not currently on the 4-man roster to Spring Training including:
- LHP’s Colton Turner, Jordan Guerrero
- RHP’s Zach Thompson, Jimmy Lambert
- Catchers Zack Collins, Alfredo Gonzalez
- Infielders Ryan Goins, Danny Mendick, Nick Madrigal
- Outfielders Charlie Tilson, Blake Rutherford, Luis Robert and Luis Gonzalez.
Transactions
Signed
- RHP Randall Delgado, Mac Welsh
- LHP Tyler Watson, Jacob Lindgren
- INF Chris Johnson, Jake Elmore, D.J. Peterson, T.J. Bennett, Matt Skole
- OF Michael Deeb
- C Justin O’Conner
- Christopher Valdez and Frander Veras (positions not listed, no further info available)
Selected
- 1B/OF Jordan George was selected in the minor league portion of the Rule 5 Draft (article here)
Assigned
- RHP Donn Roach, RHP Randall Delgado, INF D.J. Peterson, 1B Matt Skole and 2B Ryan Goins to Charlotte
Outrighted
- OF Charlie Tilson was outrighted to Charlotte
Designated
- The White Sox designated LHP Ian Clarkin for assignment, and he was then claimed by the Cubs (again)
Lost in Draft
- RHP Cristofer Melendez, last with the DSL White Sox, was taken in the Rule 5 Draft (article here)
Released
- Charlotte released C Brett Austin
- Birmingham released C Casey Schroeder and P Jake Johansen
- Winston-Salem released OF Nolan Brown and INF Mikey Duarte
- Kannapolis released RHP Yosmer Solorzano and RHP Aron McRee
- Great Falls released RHP Chris Comito, C Adam McGinnis, OF Jay Estes
- AZl released LHP Ryan Erickson, LHP Drew Weston, RHP Nelson Acosta
Retired
- Kannapolis LHP Parker Rigler retired
News and Links
- It was rankings week in late January. We released our 2019 Preseason Top 30, the just-missed list and a writer’s roundtable explaining divisive prospects.
- Speaking of rankings, some of the national publications put out there new Top 100 lists:
- MLB Pipeline shows six Sox in their T100
- Baseball America shows five Sox
- FutureSox had boots on the ground at SoxFest. Here’s White Sox manager Rick Renteria talking prospects. I heard a rumor that his boys don’t quit. We also posted interviews with Birmingham RHP Dylan Cease, Winston-Salem SS Nick Madrigal, Charlotte C Zack Collins and White Sox LHP Jace Fry to our YouTube channel.
- James Fegan of The Athletic wrote in detail about the visit to the DSL camp by a number of US-raised prospects.
- The White Sox made a series of changes to their minor league coaches and staff. Matt Cassidy broke them down.
- FutureSox’s own James Fox broke down the White Sox college-heavy draft philosophy, and how it could be limiting the organization’s upside.
- Several episodes of the FutureSox Podcast dropped in 2019:
- The first episode featured none other than White Sox GM Rick Hahn
- The second episode featured Baseball America’s JJ Cooper
- The third episode featured Winston-Salem SS Laz Rivera, Winston-Salem OF Blake Rutherford, White Sox broadcaster Jason Benetti and more from Rick Hahn.
- Mike Rankin was busy this offseason. He profiled Birmingham’s Luis Alexander Basabe and recapped the winter league. He’s our newest writer – welcome aboard Mike!
- If you didn’t hear the news, longtime FutureSox Editor-in-Chief Matt Cassidy announced he’d be stepping down from leading the site, appointing Clinton Cole the next editor-in-chief of FutureSox. As the person that brought me onto FutureSox, I personally wish Matt nothing but the best in all his future endeavors, and am excited to see where Clinton takes the FutureSox in (pardon me) the future.
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