Pittsburgh Pirates 2021 Previews: RHP Carson Fulmer
With the bullpen in disarray in 2020, the Pittsburgh Pirates did everything they could to put out a competitive bullpen. They went out and traded for/signed several mid-level relievers in hopes that one would stick. One of those relievers was right-handed pitcher Carson Fulmer, who they claimed off waivers from the Detroit Tigers. He was on the Pirates roster for a total of two days and did not pitch before being DFA'd again. Then, he latched on with the Baltomore Orioles, but after three scoreless outings they too DFA'd Fulmer. He ended up finding his way back to the Pirates and enters the 2021 season looking for a spot in the team's bullpen.
Fulmer is a former eighth round pick of the Chicago White Sox and although he had success in the Minor Leagues, it just hasn't translated to the Major League level. 2020 was his best performance so far as he combined to post a 4.35 ERA over 10 relief appearances with the Tigers and Orioles. Fulmer has worked both as a starting pitcher and a reliever in his professional career and could find himself in a race for both spots in Spring Training. Both the bullpen and the starting rotation have questions that need answered, and a strong showing in Spring Training could earn the 27-year-old a spot. We look back at Fulmer's bounce around 2020 and figure out where he could best fit for the Pirates in 2021.
From First Rounder to Waiver Claim
Coming out of college, Fulmer was one of the most highly regarded pitchers in the entire SEC. During his junior year at Vanderbilt, he went 14-2 with a 2.26 ERA in 19 starts. He was selected number eight overall by the Chicago White Sox in 2015 and flew through the organization making it to Triple-A by the middle of the 2016 season. One year after being drafted, Fulmer found himself in the Major Leagues as a September call-up. He made eight appearances out of the bullpen and went 0-2 with an 8.39 ERA. He spent the next four years bouncing up and down between the Minor Leagues and Major Leagues. Then 2020 came and it began a whirlwind year of moving from team to team.
He began the year back in the Major Leagues, this time with Detroit with one last chance to prove that he could be a part of the Tigers bullpen. He made eight appearances for the Tigers but posted a 6.75 ERA over 6.2 innings of work. He struck out seven of the 32 batters he faces, but he got hit around too much to stay in the bullpen. The Tigers designated him for assignment on August 20th, ending his short run in Detroit. Four days later, the Pirates made a waiver claim on Fulmer and added him to the Big League roster. He spent just four days on the Pirates roster, but when the Pirates activates Joe Musgrove off the injured list, Fulmer was the odd man out.
The 26-year-old would be on a new team just three days later as he joined the Baltimore Orioles off waivers. He joined the Orioles bullpen and ended up having the best run of his Major League career. He made three appearances covering 3.2 innings of work and did not allow a hit. He only allowed three people to reach base against him, two walks and one hit batsman. His best outing came against the Tampa Bay Rays on September 18th, 2020. He entered the game with the bases loaded and two outs and got a key groundout to get the Orioles out of the jam. Ultimately, the Orioles did not see a future for the right-hander and ended up DFAing him at the end of the season. The Pirates took the opportunity to claim him once again and put him in the mix for the 2021 bullpen.
Return to Dominance
All through college and the Minor Leagues, Fulmer was always one of the most dominant pitchers on the mound. He rose through the Minor Leagues in a year and a half and had success at every stop along the way. However, that success just hasn't translated well at the Big League level. He has spent parts of the last five seasons at the Big League level and has gone 6-9 with a 6.34 ERA. None of those have been consistent stints in the Big Leagues, and he is looking for his first full opportunity with the Pirates. There are so many pitchers in the mix for a middle to long-relief role, and Fulmer will have to stand out from the rest.
His velocity dropped from 2019 to 2020 down to 90 miles per hour, but in the end it helped him with his control. His fastball was his most used pitch at 54.3% and was one of his most effective pitch. Opponents hit just .188 against the pitch and struck out four times. He only allowed one extra-base hit off the pitch, a home run, and retired 20% of the batters on the pitch. His next most effective pitch is his change-up with batters hitting .167 against it. He struck out four batters and had the most swing and misses with a WHIFF% of 45%. He adds both a cutter and curveball to his arsenal as both pitches continue to develop at the Big League level.
As far as how Fulmer would impact the Pirates in 2021, I think he will be in the mix but he would have to have a strong Spring Training to get an Opening Day spot. With guys like Geoff Hartlieb, Edgar Santana, Tyler Bashlor, and Sam Howard among others competing for a spot, Fulmer may get pushed to the back of the line. He will more than likely start the year in Triple-A Indianapolis as a starter. That is where he has spent most of his career and this would open up a spot both in the starting rotation and the bullpen if the opportunity arises. At 27-years-old, Fulmer still has the prime years of his career ahead of him, and he is looking to make the most of them in Pittsburgh.
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