Levine: White Sox Love Carson Fulmer's Makeup, Pedigree
By Bruce Levine--
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Going with the best college starting pitcher available in the June amateur draft has worked out pretty well for the White Sox in recent years. Ace left-hander Chris Sale made it to the big leagues after 11 minor-league games in 2010. This year, rookie Carlos Rodon ascended to the majors after only a few late-season minor-games in 2014 and a couple weeks this season.
With those success stories on the books, it was only natural for the White Sox to go to the college pitching well one more time Monday evening in the first round. The choice of power right-hander Carson Fulmer of Vanderbilt at No. 8 overall was predictable but not a slam dunk for scouting director Doug Laumann.
Fulmer's 13-2 with a 1.82 ERA and 152 strikeouts in 114 innings this season, helping the Commodores advance to the College World Series for the second straight year after they won it in 2014. Fulmer was the SEC Player of the Year this season.
"His pedigree speaks volumes about the type of pitcher he is," Laumann said. "He has pitched on the biggest stage won a World Series. He is on his way back to another World Series. He has taken the ball every Friday night in a league that could have five of the eight teams that make the College World Series."
The White Sox will use the 21-year-old Fulmer in a bullpen role when he begins his professional career. This procedure has worked well with Sale and earlier in this season with Rodon before they ascended to starting roles.
There's no set plan to have the 6-foot, 195-pound Fulmer reach the majors this year, though, even if he is another polished prospect.
"It's hard to say," Laumann said of a major league call-up for Fulmer in 2015. "Let me put it this way: If somebody could do it, with the type of makeup Carson has and his stuff, he is capable of doing that. Remember whatever we do with these kids, it's the long-term development that is most important. Just to get him here to get him here makes no sense and wouldn't be good for him as well. He could handle the stage, I can tell you that."
Fulmer was a closer at Vanderbilt until been converted into a starter last season as a sophomore. He posses a 93-97 mph fastball and a power slider and change-up.
As to whether he stays in the bullpen will be a decision made after the 2015 season based on needs at the major league level and the best evaluation of what Fulmer is capable of.
Fulmer is from Lakeland, Fla, the same place Sale is from.
"Anytime you get a high pick like that, it's interesting and makes it fun," Sale said after striking out 14 Astros and winning his fifth game Monday night. "He is from Lakeland, that helps. It's exciting for him and for us because potentially we are getting someone that can make an impact on our club. It is crazy (getting drafted and still pitching as Fulmer will do for Vanderbilt). Hopefully he keeps his head screwed on and tries not to pay attention (to being drafted). He still has a job to do for his school and himself. We will see him when we see him."
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
