8/27/14

MMs Top 25: #12 RHSP Michael Fulmer


#12 RHSP Michael Fulmer (LR: #13)
Bats: R Throws: R
Height: 6' 3" Weight: 200 lb
Age: 21
Acquired: 2011 Rule 4 Draft, 1st Round, Deer Creek HS (Edmond, OK)

2014: (A+/AA) 6-11, 4.38 ERA, 98.2 IP, 7.9 K/9, 3.1 BB/9, 1.541 WHIP
2013: (A+) 2-2, 3.44 ERA, 46.0 IP, 7.7 K/9, 4.8 BB/9, 1.235 WHIP
2012: (A) 7-6, 2.74 ERA, 108.1 IP, 8.4 K/9, 3.2 BB/9,1.200 WHIP
2011: (R) 0-1, 10.12 ERA, 5.1 IP, 16.9 K/9, 6.8 BB/9, 2.438 WHIP  

***Please take note: After re-reviewing Fulmer's case I have bumped Mazzoni and Puello up 1 spot and am slotting Fulmer at #12.

     With all the hype surrounding Harvey, Wheeler, Syndergaard, Montero, Ynoa, Molina, Whalen, Mazzoni and DeGrom; Michael Fulmer has sort of become the forgotten pitching prospect within the system.

     After posting very strong numbers as the 4th youngest pitcher in the SAL, Fulmer torn his meniscus during Spring Training which caused him to miss a better part of half the 2013 season. He was starting to round back into form with 3 straight 6+ inning starts until he took a comebacker to his pitching arm off the bat of Casey Kotchman. As a precaution, the Mets front office decided to keep him off the mound for the remainder of the season.

     Fulmer is back this season fully healthy and pitched well enough at the Florida State League that he's already earned a promotion to Binghamton. He possesses a 93-94 mph fastball that has touched 97 at times and a very hard, sharp mid 80's slider that is MLB average right now and has the potential to be a plus plus major league offering. He has also improved his change-up to the point where it could become a potential 3rd MLB pitch.

     With the number of young pitchers who have made, or are ready to make the jump to the MLB level, Fulmer is going to have really impress during his time in Binghamton both this and probably next year in order to get an MLB shot. If there ends up not being room for him, he could be a secondary trade piece for a bat.

Ceiling: Good #4/Borderline #3 MLB pitcher (Charlie Morton)
Floor: Middle Leverage Reliever/Spot Starter (David Phelps)



3 comments:

Mack Ade said...

Michael Fulmer's only goal this year was to finish the season healthy which he did not.

He is a very talented pitcher and the best thing he has going for him right now is his age.

My guess is he will be in the Las Vegas rotation in 2015 while the Mets figure out who to play in Queens, who to send to Vegas to also pitch there, and who to trade.

Michael S. said...

I like Fulmer but I think he'll be trade fodder or a BP arm.

Hobie said...

Couldn't help but thinking" "Fulmer is the new Black."

I apologize.