Carson Fulmer

Position: RHP
Born: 12/13/1993
Ht: 6’1″ Wt: 190 lb
Acquired: Drafted 1st round (8th overall) in the 2015 draft out of Vanderbilt
Career Stats

FutureSox Prospect Rankings

  • #1 – 2015 Midseason
  • #2 – 2016 Preseason
  • #2 – 2016 Midseason
  • #6 – 2017 Preseason
  • #21 – 2017 Midseason
  • #13 – 2018 Preseason

FutureSox Media

Accolades

  • Futures Game, 2016

Scouting Report

In 2015, the White Sox did something similar to 2014 in selecting an advanced college arm with their top pick. A decorated pitcher and student at Vanderbilt, Fulmer signed for full slot value ($3,470,600) with the eighth pick.

Fulmer’s first pro assignment was a single inning tune-up with the AZL club (video links above), before jumping to High-A Winston-Salem. Despite the big jump, Carson handled Carolina League hitters pretty effectively: 22 IP, 16 H, 5 ER, 9 BB, 25 K. He also threw in Fall Instructs (again, we have video, above). In 2016, he opened in Double-A Birmingham and struggled mightily with command in his first 10 starts: 46 IP, 45 H, 34 BB, 36 K, 5.87 ERA. But once his adjustments (see article link above about those changes) really got the right balance, he started seeing big improvement. Since those 10 starts, his next 7 looked like this: 41 IP, 37 H, 17 BB, 54 K, 3.51 ERA. Fulmer then made his MLB debut on July 17 out of the bullpen. He was back in Triple-A Charlotte to end the year, with his last three starts looking quite good (15 IP, 9 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 14 K).

In 2017 the key word was inconsistent – he wavered from looking very good to pretty bad, but was promoted to the majors again anyway in August and posted good core results (3.86 ERA, 1.24 WHIP in 23.1 IP) but iffy peripherals (13 BB, 19 K). The next two years saw more of the same. Fulmer struggled again in Charlotte in 2018 and was worse in the majors. A move to the bullpen didn’t solve his problems in 2019 and he was picked up off waivers before the 2020 season.

Fulmer brings an arsenal featuring two pitches that can show plus character. His fastball is typically around 92-94 with arm-side run, and the curveball (usually upper 70s) is a two-plane offering that scouts have raved about but which he’s never gained full command over. He’s also got a mid 80s changeup with good depth that shows potential to be above average, and has added a cutter that runs 88-90. He has softened some of the violence in his delivery a bit, as seen in more recent videos above, but there’s still a substantial head whack and plenty of effort. He’s a bulldog on the mound who emanates intensity, and likes to chatter, though that has also calmed a bit.