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9/7/10

2011 ROSTER PROJECTION: - #47 - SP - Jimmy Fuller

47. James Fuller – SP



Fuller was a 21st round pick by the Mets in 2008. - On draft day: Fuller, who was previously named as both the ABCA/Rawlings Northeast Region and Northeast-10 Pitcher of the Year, led the nation in strikeouts (145), ranked second in strikeouts per nine innings (13.45) and was also among the top-10 nationally in hits allowed per nine innings and earned-run average. During the regular season, he led the Northeast-10 in ERA (0.99), opponent batting average (.163) and strikeouts (125). In addition, the southpaw finished tied for first in the conference in wins (nine) and fourth in innings pitched (82.0). Between Feb. 17 and Apr. 19, Fuller went 59 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run.


From http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/sports/x1533840566 : - Article suggests that because of his 2 remaining years, he might not be a difficult sign and is willing to go back to school to improve draft status. "Fuller's dominance begins with his fastball. It was clocked at 93 miles per hour during SCSU's trip to Florida at the start of the season and is consistently around 91. But beyond simple heat, Fuller has three other pitches he can command - curve, slider and changeup." "The changeup, actually, is something new. Fuller says he throws it at about 75 miles per hour, meaning there's a 15-16 mph difference between the fastball and changeup, pitches that look exactly the same leaving his hand. It means there are a lot of hitters looking foolish as they swing at a ball that's still about five feet from home plate. "I try to work my fastball to get ahead, and then mix them all up," said Fuller. "This year I started to work in the changeup and it's been pretty effective. It's a pretty nice pitch when I get it to work."


In September 2008, Patrick Hickey wrote on: Jim Fuller- Someone who looked very solid, had great numbers, but didn’t pitch enough to really establish himself. Because of that, he may find himself in Brooklyn next season, but considering his college numbers and how well he fared at Keyspan Park in limited duty, he’s a guy that can easily be penned into the starting rotation in Savannah next season. - Final Grade- B+


1-1-10 Forecast: Fuller has pitched his first two seasons for Brooklyn. Neither was for a full season and his combined stats for the two years are: 5-6, 2.44, 1.15, 20-games, 12-starts, 89-K, 1.0-IP. He will play 2010 as a 23 year old so it’s time to move, but there’s no room for him in the St. Lucie rotation. I still place him there in a relief role, but he may wind up in Savannah’s rotation instead.


4-10-10: - From: http://savannahnow.com/sports/2010-04-10/gnats-fuller-brushes-away-power  - Jimmy Fuller grew up in Massachusetts and went to college at Southern Connecticut State. No, he doesn't get any grief for being in a New York professional baseball organization."If it was the Yankees, maybe," he said. New York, New England and Savannah baseball fans were happy with Fuller on Friday. The 22-year-old left-hander kept hitters off-balance for six scoreless innings and led the Sand Gnats to a 5-0 victory over the West Virginia Power before 1,940 fans in Grayson Stadium.


4-15-10: - SP - A-Savannah: I don't know if going from James to Jimmy had anything to do with it, but if he keeps pitching like this, you can call him A.J. or anything else you want to call him... first two outings:14.0-IP, 0.64, .0.57. More important, 15-K and only 2-BB.


7-16-10 from: - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2010/7/16/1572497/mets-farm-system-mid-term-review  - When the Mets promoted two pitchers drafted in 2008 from Savannah, it was kind of telling to see which two they chose: Cohoon and Moore. At the time, Fuller had a sub-2.00 ERA and was possibly just as dominant as the other two. But Cohoon went to Double-A and Moore to St. Lucie, while Fuller was left to hold the line in Savannah. And it's really for that reason why I have Fuller's stock staying steady. While Church has seen his role expanded this season, Fuller is still perceived by the organization as a Sally League starter, despite that ERA. And Fuller's pitching legitimately well: the strikeout rate is strong, walk rate's just fine; his FIP is a very good 2.93, his BABIP a very reasonable .302. No obvious warning signs. Well, except one, and it's the single most common one you'll see in finesse pitchers in the minors: he's allowed just one homer in 93.1 IP. That's well under 1% of his outfield flies for those wondering. And that just won't hold up as he advances, and it's probably the most significant reason for attrition in otherwise solid pitching prospects. There's a large number of pitching prospects in the minors who repeatedly put the ball in the air but don't have the home run rates to match. It's just not a repeatable skill for the vast majority of pitchers, and it'll probably hurt Fuller as he advances. Still, he's a lefty with a decent slider, so there's still a chance of him becoming a reliever, which is exactly what I would have told you last year.


7-26-10: - A lot of good starting pitchers have come out of Savannah over the past few years, some of which were promoted to St. Lucie at the all-star break this year. One left behind, Jimmy Fuller, is making a good case of being left behind for the wrong reason. Sunday night, Fuller went 6.0-IP, 4-H, 0-R, 6-K, 0-BB for the Gnats and improved his season record to 18-G, 8-3, 1.93, 1.11, .298-BABIP. 2.67-FIP.


9-1-10 from: - http://www.sandgnats.com/  - The South Atlantic League announced today that Jimmy Fuller was named to the League’s 2010 All-Star Team as the team’s left-handed pitcher and was named the SAL’s “Most Outstanding Pitcher.” Savannah Pitching Coach Marc Valdes was recognized as the Coach on the 2010 All-Star team.

In 2010, Fuller had his finest season. He first went 8-3, 193, in 19 starts for Savannah, but he followed this with 5 more starts for St. Lucie, going 3-2, 3.38. His combined 2010 stats were: 11-5, 2.19, 131.1-IP, 124-K, and only 38-BB.

2011 Forecast:  Fuller wasn't promoted to St. Lucie at the all-star break, like many of his fellow Sand Gnat starters. As it turned out, he might have benefited the most. He won the Sally MOP and has already begun his stint in St. Lucie. I'm sure he'll return there in the spring, especially since it looks like there will be six starters fighting for the five slots in Binghamton. We try not to get excited about SPs at this level, especially ones that don't sit at 95, but Fuller has definitely impressed us in 2010.

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