Pittsburgh Pirates take flier on former top prospect Carson Fulmer
The Pittsburgh Pirates have nothing to lose by taking a flier on Carson Fulmer, once one of the top pitching prospects in baseball.
As the Pittsburgh Pirates rebuild continues, it makes sense that they would search through every possible place to find a diamond in the rough. Those former top prospects or high draft picks are all worth giving a second chance, or, in some cases, a third or fourth chance, to develop into useful pieces.
It is with that thought in mind that the Pirates have brought in another former top prospect, claiming Carson Fulmer off waivers.
ROSTER MOVE: We have claimed RHP Carson Fulmer off waivers from the Detroit Tigers and have designated Guillermo Heredia for assignment.
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) August 24, 2020
The eighth overall selection in the 2015 MLB Draft, Fulmer was expected to be a key part of the White Sox future pitching staff. He rocketed through the minors, reaching the majors as a September callup in 2016. However, he never established himself as a major league piece, bouncing between AAA and the majors for the past four years.
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Fulmer has not exactly performed well in either stop. In 243.2 career innings in AAA, he has posted a 5.39 ERA and a 1.555 WHiP, striking out 223 batters with 132 walks. Yet, as mediocre as those numbers are, they are better than his major league results, as Fulmer has a cumulative 6.57 ERA and a 1.638 WHiP in his 101.1 innings, striking out 90 batters with 67 walks.
Not only has Fulmer been ineffective at either AAA or the major league level, he has seen his velocity decline. His fastball sat at 92 MPH this season, a far cry from his 96 to 97 MPH that he was at during his college days. However, he did have elite spin rates on his fastball and curve, as well as a solid 12.8% swinging strike rate during his brief stint with the Tigers.
With those spin and swinging strike rates, it is understandable why the Pirates would take a chance on Fulmer. It is a low cost lottery ticket, someone to look at over the final few weeks of the season in hope that he can find his way once more. Should that happen, Fulmer is under team control through 2025, making him a possible long term option.
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The Pittsburgh Pirates are taking a chance on Carson Fulmer. Given his pedigree, he is worth a look.