Top pick Carson Fulmer presents concerns for Chicago White Sox

By Jason Lowenthal |

The White Sox didn’t have much of a choice. With a rotation that is likely going to be torn apart over the next year via offseason departures and likely trades, drafting Carson Fulmer with the eighth overall selection in the 2015 MLB Draft came as no surprise.

Fulmer was a top-10 pick for good reason. Coming off a 14-2 season with a sub-2.00 ERA at Vanderbilt, he was arguably college baseball’s most dominant starter last year, earning him Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Year honors. All that is great for the South Siders, but a major concern stood out in Fulmer’s starts during his junior year. He tips his pitches every so often.

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At the collegiate level, even in a baseball haven of a conference like the SEC, Fulmer was able to get away with tipping his pitches most of the time because he could just overpower most hitters with an electric mid-90s fastball. But he won’t have that luxury at the major league level, where the hitters are smarter, have quicker hands and make pitchers pay for mistakes.

Another knock on Fulmer is his effort-intensive delivery. While it might throw off or even intimidate collegiate hitters, major leaguers are used to seeing unconventional deliveries all the time and likely won’t be affected by it.

Looking down the road, Fulmer is a relatively low-risk player with a high ceiling. If he tweaks his motion ever so slightly and exhibits tremendous command like he did at Vandy, he has the potential to be a viable third starter for the Sox behind Chris Sale and Carlos Rodon, or even develop into a reliable closer.

The 21-year-old has impressed thus far with Winston-Salem in Class-A Advanced ball, compiling a 2.05 ERA in eight appearances with opponents batting just .205 against him. To be fair, he is a promising young talent who should be in Chicago – whether as starter or closer – for years to come, but taking that next step will be all about learning to not tip his pitches. He’s a smart player and, in time, can alleviate that concern. All it’ll take is a few tweaks.

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