The Keepers - #86 - P - James Fuller

86.           SP      James Fuller

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.

4-15-10: - 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.

7-26-10: - 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

The left-handed Fuller finished his time in Savannah with an 8-3 record and a 1.93 ERA in 107.1 innings pitched. He struck out 99 batters and walked just 29. At the time of his promotion to the Florida State League on August 5th, Fuller led all active SAL pitchers in ERA and was seventh in strikeouts.

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.

9-4-10: - 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 MVP 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.

8-18-11: - I’m working on my Keeper list and, frankly, no matter how much I like this guy, I’m going to have to drop him on the list. He simply hasn’t pitched an inning all year.