The Keepers - #14 - RHSP - Michael Fulmer

14.     Michael Fulmer:

6-1-11: - http://bleacherreport.com/articles/724660-mlb-mock-draft-2011-50-key-prospects-to-watch-on-draft-day#/articles/724660-mlb-mock-draft-2011-50-key-prospects-to-watch-on-draft-day/page/7 - High school right-hander Michael Fulmer is one of several Oklahoma players making this list. Fulmer, just named the Big All-City Player of the Year, Fulmer was 10-2 with a 0.72 ERA, with 127 strikeouts in 68 innings. And when he wasn’t pitching, Fulmer pitched in (no pun intended) at third base, hitting .436 with six home runs and 43 RBI. For Fulmer, it was a major achievement, having only made 17 plate appearances in his sophomore and junior years combined. Fulmer has signed on to play baseball at the University of Arkansas, but he will definitely get his chance with a first or sandwich round draft pick.

6-6-11: - Mets Supplemental 1^st Round Pick -  RHP Michael Fulmer 6'2", 180 lbs.- Deer Creek High School, Oklahoma – Frankly, I didn’t know a thing about this kid when his name wall called out. Remember, I do a lot of work on the draft every year and I compile just about every word I can find  reported about these guys. There were 144 RHPs named in all those mock drafts and not one of them mentioned Fulmer. I never claimed to be an expert in this area. I’m just a messenger of what everyone else claims to be an expert in. I’ve now learned that he, like Brandon Nimmo, is committed to the University of Arkansas, and, according to Keith Law, throws in the 92-7 range and has a great curve. Again, like Nimmo, I have no idea how to grade this pick so I have to give it another incomplete rating. In fact, my whole night has been incomplete. Blogspot’s having tech problems and I can’t put pictures up and I sort or had so much more planned to write about tonight. Hopefully, some of the college guys still available in the draft will be picked by the Mets tomorrow and I can pump me up. One thing I will say. Lots of balls here and big planned to over-slot. I hope for their sake there’s a signature here.

6-6-11: - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2011/6/7/2210638/scouting-report-on-mets-sandwich-pick-michael-fulmer - Fulmer is an attractive combination of stuff and polish. After a velocity bump this past spring, Fulmer is now throwing in the low-90s and can touch 95 from time to time. With a 6-3, 200-lb. frame, he might have a little bit more projection left in the tank, but the body is pretty mature right now. He's actually bordering on soft-bodied, and conditioning will be important for him going forward. In addition to the fastball, he throws a curve (which I've also seen referred to as a slider) and a changeup. While Fulmer's coaches even refer to the pitch as a slider, it acts more like a curve, but whatever you call it, it's impressive. He throws it with tight rotation and it has big downward break, coming in around 78. Even better: he can throw the pitch for strikes. He also has a changeup, but that's pretty much a non-factor right now, as is common with high school arms. But despite that, it's rare to see a prep curve ball as consistent as Fulmer's and it implies that he might move a little faster than most high school arms.

6-7-11: - http://www.minorleagueball.com/2011/6/7/2211224/2011-mlb-draft-compensation-round-analysis-and-opinion - 1-44) Mets: Michael Fulmer, RHP, Deer Creek HS, Edmond, OK: Overshadowed by Bundy and Bradley in Oklahoma but an excellent prospect in his own right, hitting the mid-90s. Totally legitimate pick, as Fulmer would be a first rounder in many classes.

6-14-11: - http://www.minorleagueball.com/2011/6/14/2222649/2011-mlb-draft-new-york-mets-review#storyjump  -  1S) Michael Fulmer, RHP, Oklahoma HS: Mid-90s fastball, good slider, needs better changeup but hardly a serious flaw at this point. Also has an Arkansas commitment.

6-24-11: - The Mets have agreed to terms with supplemental first round pick Michael Fulmer, the pitcher announced (on Twitter). He said he agreed to a contract yesterday, though he has yet to sign. Baseball America ranked Fulmer 45th among draft eligible prospects and the Mets selected him with the 44th overall pick. Fulmer's fastball reaches the mid-90s and he can maintain his velocity late into games, according to BA. He has a hard slider, though he'll have to work on developing a change-up - http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/06/mets-agree-to-sign-supplemental-pick-fulmer.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

6-27-11 – named to the Baseball America 2011 Postseason High School All-American second team.

7-25-11: - http://www.metstoday.com/6761/mets-news/mets-sign-michael-fulmer - Remember when the Mets allowed Pedro Feliciano to move crosstown to the Bronx as a free agent? Well, in return for losing the LOOGY, the Mets received a supplemental pick after the first round of the draft this past June, and they used it to draft high school pitcher Michael Fulmer. According to Baseball America, Fulmer has signed with the Mets for a little under a million dollars — $937,500 to be exact.  Fulmer is 6’2″, 200 pounds, righthanded, and reportedly throws in the mid-90s.

8-8-11: - Stock Meh – SP Michael Fulmer – Fulmer started his first professional game today,had a no-hitter going, but didn’t get out of the first inning. No one slid into him or no hammy was pulled. Line: 0.2-IP, 0-H, 3-BB, 1-WR, 2-R, 1-ER, 13.50. We’ll write this one off as nerves and check back in five days from now.

8-22-11 Observation: - SP Michael Fulmer – Admittedly, I had Fulmer ranked too high in my last roster feature. I simply confused him with someone else. It really doesn’t matter where or how the high school kid is used this season and there is reason to rush him. There are a fair amount of college arms that were signed in the last 30 days and they will move ahead of Fulmer in the pecking order. My guess is he will remain in extended camp when the season starts and head up the Brooklyn rotation in 2012. ETA: 2016

8-21-11: - Stock Down – SP – Michael Fulmer – Fulmer threw his third professional outing Sunday and, so far, he might be dreaming about college. First outing: 0.2-IP, 3-ER… 2nd outing: 0.1-IP, rainstorm… today: 2.1-IP, 2-ER. A positive sign was five strikeouts today. I’m sure he’s just getting his feet wet.

9-25-11: - Michael Fulmer – Fulmer was a pleasant surprise as the 2^nd round pick this past June. Great high school stats (10-2, 0.72, 127-K, 68-IP), but we always questing the quality of high school competition. He was comfortably hitting 97 this past season, which is just fine with me. His sitting velo climb was 2009: 90, 2010: 95, 2011: 97. He’s pushing 6-4, and that should be about it height wise. His future will be dependent upon mastering his “slider/curve”, which has big, downward break. The Mets will move slow here, but will probably showcase him in Brooklyn next season.

10-20-11: - http://metsmerizedonline.com/2011/10/mmo-top-20-mets-prospects-19-michael-fulmer-rhp.html - At 6’3″ and 200 lbs. Fulmer has good size, and has gained anywhere from 5-7 mph on his fastball in the last calendar year, while growing an inch in height and putting on about 20 lbs. His heater is now in the mid 90′s with his fastball topping out at 97. He has a very promising secondary pitch he is now throwing at 83-85 mph, that is thrown with a tight rotation and comes in with a sharp downward break. The most impressive thing about his breaking pitch, is he can throw it for strikes, which makes it a potentially devastating out-pitch. His change-up, like most high school pitchers, is a work-in-progress at this time, and will be something he must refine to find success as a starter beyond the lowest levels of the minors. He has shown good stamina on the mound, and should develop into a pitcher who can throw deep into games.

10-25-11: - http://www.minorleaguerundown.com/2011/10/25/2011-top-20-new-york-mets-prospects  - 2011 Top 20 New York Mets Prospects -  12.Michael Fulmer, RHP (Rookie League): It may take a little while to get the kinks in his mechanics worked out, but the pure stuff is there for him to be a quality top of the rotation guy. Fulmer already shows solid low-to-mid 90s velocity and a curve that is probably going to be his meal ticket. Even if he fails to show the command necessary to start Fulmer should settle in as a high leverage bullpen piece. The landing in his delivery is a little funny-looking, but if he can throw strikes with it there is no reason to change it barring health concerns.

12-7-11: - http://baseballdraftreport.com – The first big overslot prep arm selected by the Mets was Deer Creek HS (OK) RHP Michael Fulmer. Fulmer’s big fastball is already a plus pitch and his hard slider is well on its way. Those two pitches, combined with a mature frame with little growth potential, have many thinking future reliever. As always, it comes down to the development of a usable third offering. If Fulmer’s changeup, splitter, or whatever, turns into a quality pitch, his ceiling gets elevated. Without having any knowledge of if or how he’ll manage that third pitch, he’s a future reliever. RHP Michael Fulmer (Deer Creek HS, Oklahoma): 90-94 FB, 97 peak; 83-85 SL; CU needs work; 6-2, 200

1-10-12 - http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/top-15-prospects-new-york-mets/  6. Michael Fulmer, RHP

 BORN: March 15, 1993

 EXPERIENCE: 1 season

 ACQUIRED: 2011 supplemental 1st round, Oklahoma HS

 2010-11 TOP 10 RANKING: NA

SCOUTING REPORT: There was an outstanding crop of amateur pitching from the state of Oklahoma in 2011 with three prep pitchers nabbed in the first and supplemental round: Dylan Bundy (Orioles), Archie Bradley (Arizona), and Fulmer. The Mets right-hander has a low-to-mid-90s fastball and a promising slider. He has a big, strong frame and projects to develop into a workhorse.

YEAR IN REVIEW: Fulmer appeared in just four rookie league games after signing, posting a 10.13 ERA (but 2.26 FIP) in five innings. He walked four batters but also struck out 10.

YEAR AHEAD: The Mets organization tends to be aggressive with its top, young prospects so Fulmer could very likely open 2012 in low-A ball. He has a fair bit of work to do on developing a changeup so some time in extended spring training might actually benefit him in the long run.

CAREER OUTLOOK: As long as he develops his change-of-pace, Fulmer has the potential to develop two plus pitches (fastball, slider) and become a No. 2 starter. He’ll likely need four or five years in the minors to develop.