Carson Fulmer

The White Sox need a new closer. Before you look too hard, it is highly unlikely to be Fulmer. While he has a starter's arsenal of pitches, he can't command any of them well enough to live in high-leverage roles. He has struggled with command throughout his career, which leads to walks and homers. Dean Wormer told us that being fat, drunk and stupid is a hell of a way to go through life, and walking batters and surrendering homers is a hell of a way to work as a relief pitcher. Spin rate fans will point to the fact that Fulmer has high numbers on both his fastball and curve, but none of that means anything if Fulmer can't locate his pitches where the catchers calls for them. He is more than one skill away from another level of production, so speculating on a successful 2020 role is akin to hoping your favorite team can come back from a six-run deficit in the ninth. They may, if Fulmer is on the mound.

While it's understandable why the White Sox wanted to give Fulmer an extended chance to make it as a starter, it appears he's exhausted all his opportunities and is ticketed for the bullpen as many expected when he was taken eighth overall in the 2015 draft. Despite being the first in his class to make the majors, Fulmer hasn't developed as hoped, continuing to display subpar control. In 32.1 innings with the White Sox, Fulmer allowed 37 hits, eight of which left the yard, aiding 29 earned runs. He was sent to Triple-A Charlotte where a 5.80 ERA as a starter pushed him to the Knights' bullpen. Perhaps ditching his cutter and changeup and instead relying strictly on his 93-mph fastball and plus curve can spur a major-league career as a reliever. While hope may spring eternal for the White Sox, Fulmer belongs nowhere near a fantasy roster.

Many in the fantasy community are ready to write Fulmer off as a starter. While he finished with strong numbers in September (1.64 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 19:10 K:BB in six appearances), it still seems likely that he ends up in the bullpen eventually. The eighth overall pick in 2015 throws four pitches but has had trouble commanding them at any level as a professional (5.1 BB/9 in majors). Meanwhile, Fulmer's strikeout rates have been modest (7.5 K/9 in majors, 8.1 K/9 in minors). He was extremely flyball prone with the White Sox last season (54.5 percent) and had a .190 BABIP and 82.7 percent left-on-base rate, with the ERA estimators suggesting he was close to two full runs worse than his surface numbers would indicate. The White Sox have openings in the rotation and could give Fulmer a look, but if that were to happen, we'd bet on him posting damaging ratios before ultimately being removed from the role.

As many predicted when he was selected, Fulmer became the first player from the 2015 draft to reach the big leagues, making his debut with the White Sox on July 17. However, it was not all sunshine and smiles. In fact, after some initial success, it was a nightmare. Fulmer gave up seven runs over the span of one inning (across two appearances) and 11 runs over six appearances before being sent back down to the minors. He was able to right the ship with just one earned run allowed and a 14:3 K:BB over his final three starts for Triple-A Charlotte. With the White Sox now firmly in rebuild mode, Fulmer should be able to focus on his development as a starter. There's still quite a bit to like -- Fulmer features two plus pitches in his fastball and curveball -- but he will need his changeup and control to come along to make it as a starting pitcher.

For the second straight season, the White Sox drafted a college pitcher with a top-10 pick in the amateur draft. He entered the draft leading the SEC in ERA, wins, and strikeouts, and his 167 strikeouts at Vanderbilt in 2015 ranked second in school history behind only David Price. He brings with him a mid-90s fastball (with movement), a plus curveball, and a changeup with potential. He was limited to 28 minor league innings after a heavy collegiate workload, but all signs point to an aggressive path to the majors. It would not be surprising to see him log innings on the south side in 2016, but a 2017 ETA is much more likely.