The Dodgers have called up Carson Fulmer from OKC, a right-handed pitcher who brings a lot of talent, elite intangibles, versatility, and MLB experience. Fulmer has been in professional baseball since 2015, but although the Dodgers are his 6th organization, he is still just 28 years old. The well-traveled veteran has 130.2 innings of MLB action under his belt and he fits the Dodger’s profile for the type of player they want in their system. Beyond his physical skills, the Former “Vandy Boy” is well known for being a great teammate, very competitive, extremely intelligent, having a great work ethic, being very focused, versatile, and, of course, talented. Here’s what his college coach at Vanderbilt, Tim Corbin, had to say about Fulmer.
“Carson is a very rare combination of power arm, skill, athleticism, mentality, and competitiveness. He is in a category by himself when it comes to all of these traits. He put together quite a year when he went from a big-game closer to a big-game starter midway through the season. He thrives in the arena of competition. Loves the team aspect and everything that it stands for.”
Career
Fulmer was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the first round of the 2015 draft out of Vanderbilt, so the 6’0 right-hander is extremely talented, and at just 28, still has a lot of future to look forward to. The White Sox put him on the fast track to the Big Leagues, as just a year after being drafted he made his Major League debut on July 17, 2016, ironically enough, in Los Angeles, but against the Angels. The talented young right-hander threw 2 scoreless innings and, although his promising career had begun, he was optioned back to Charlotte in August of that year, and stayed there until a year later, in August of the next Summer, 2017. Fulmer pitched well in 2017 allowing just 4 earned runs in 22 innings and showed his versatility starting 5 games and relieving in 2. His longest outing was 6 innings, something he did twice, and he was both a starter and reliever at Vanderbilt as well, so add versatility to the long list of traits and skills that he brings to the Dodgers.
The Lakeland, Florida native started 2018 in the MLB with the White Sox, but after allowing 17 earned runs in 7.1 innings in May of that year, was optioned back down to Charlotte where he would stay for the remainder of the year. The next year, 2019, Fulmer threw 27.1 innings, but then threw just 10.1 innings in 2020 before being Designated for Assignment and picked up off of waivers by Detroit in July of 2020. With Detroit, Fulmer threw 6.2 innings giving up 5 runs, was Designated for Assignment again just a month after the Tigers had claimed him, and was picked up off of waivers by the Pirates. The Pirates sent him to their Alternate site, where, inexplicably, after just a week, designated him for assignment again where he was picked up by Baltimore. Then, just 3 weeks after Designating Fulmer for assignment, the Pirates reclaimed the right-hander from the Orioles only to send him back to their Alternate site, then Designate him for assignment at the beginning of 2021 where he was picked up by the Reds. Fulmer threw 25.2 innings with Cincinnati last year but left him vulnerable to the Minor League Rule 5 Draft over the off-season and that’s how the Dodgers picked him up.
Dodgers Were a Great Choice
Becoming a Dodger has been a great choice for several reasons, the obvious being the great chance of winning a title this year. But, although winning is surely a top priority for the veteran, it could be assumed that there were several other factors that led him to the Boys in Blue. Fulmer is a 1st class individual, is very smart, as evidenced by being on the Honor Roll at Vanderbilt 3 years, is versatile as he has worked as both a starter and reliever in both College and at the MLB level, and finally, fits the pitch metrics profile the Dodgers like. The Dodgers have been very successful in finding guys like Fulmer and making them successful, partly because their developmental system is elite, but, also, because they know the exact skills and traits they are looking for, and Carson Fulmer checks all the boxes.
Feature Cut
Fulmer relies a lot on his 4 seam fastball and likes to ride it at the top of the zone for a lot of swing and miss. He also has a sinker, a good cutter and curveball that he throws quite a bit, and a changeup that has a ton of movement, but it is more of a “feel” pitch from day to day.
Here is a good look at his 4 seam fastball riding up and in, then his sinker low and away.
Here is a good look at the depth and vertical drop of his curveball.
Here is his changeup…As you’ll see, the pitch has an incredible amount of fade and tumble, so much to the point where you could assume it is a high maintenance pitch to control.
Depth or Deal?
The question a lot of Dodgers fans are probably asking is whether Fulmer is just another added piece of depth, or is he another veteran that flourishes and pitches like the First Round Draft pick that he was. If I was a betting man, I would bet on the latter, for several reasons. First, in terms of intangibles, he is the exact kind of teammate and person the Dodgers want in their system, so the organization is going to love having this guy around. In terms of the tangibles, let’s start with the fact that he is versatile, then also has a pitch mix that the Dodgers like with the 4 seam, cutter, curveball, and change mix and so he fits the profile from a pitch mix perspective.
It is important to know that, in sports, regardless of talent, finding the right fit, in most cases, is the most important aspect that determines success for athletes. If a player is the right “fit”, they will feel comfortable, which will allow them to maximize their efficiency and find success. Having become a free agent, Fulmer was able to choose the right “fit” for him and so that, in my opinion, will give him a great opportunity to have success in this organization. Good luck Carson Fulmer and Welcome to the Dodgers.
