Tigers add pitching help and claim Carson Fulmer from rival White Sox

The Detroit Tigers are taking their chances on a former top-10 MLB Draft pick.

Former Chicago White Sox pitcher Carson Fulmer has had a turbulent start to his MLB career. A former College World Series champion and National Pitcher of the Year at Vanderbilt, Fulmer came into the league with high expectations to be a key part to Chicago’s rotation.

Fulmer, the eighth-overall pick in the 2015 MLB Draft, never lived up to the hype. After four years with Chicago, multiple minor league demotions and recalls, the White Sox designated Fulmer for assignment in 2020 as the new season began, virtually ending his time with Chicago.

Not even two full days later, AL Central division rival Detroit came calling for Fulmer’s services. Just like that, the 26-year-old right handed pitcher is back in the fold of the MLB.

In 44 career games and 15 starts, Fulmer posted a 6-9 record with a 6.56 ERA, 69 earned runs and 83 strikeouts over 94.2 innings of work. For a pitcher with such high expectations coming out of college, these numbers do not line up with the what the White Sox thought they were getting.

Chicago figured it was getting the same guy who was a National Champion and dominant pitcher in one of the most competitive conferences in college baseball. Instead, it got a young pitcher who was not yet ready to make an immediate impact at the highest level.

Obviously, it is not the end of the world for Fulmer. Getting a fresh start on a new team is just what the young pitcher needs. In a shortened season where expectations for the Tigers as a team are not high, Fulmer does not have much to lose. He just has to go out and make adjustments based on what has worked and what has not during his career.

Staying in the division could also be added motivation. With 10 games against the Sox this year, there is ample opportunity for Fulmer to get revenge on the team that cut him loose.