Although Major League Baseball did not hold a full Rule 5 Draft during the offseason due to the lockout, the Minor League portion still took place. It entailed the Los Angeles Dodgers adding an intriguing pitcher by taking Carson Fulmer, a former top prospect.
The Dodgers used their second-round pick on Fulmer, who was arguably was the most notable player taken in the Rule 5 Draft.
Fulmer was previously selected eighth overall in the 2015 MLB Draft after leading the Vanderbilt University pitching staff alongside Walker Buehler.
The two became close friends during their time at Vanderbilt, and Fulmer even began to rely on Buehler as a secondary pitching coach, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic:
“He’s one of my best friends,” Fulmer said. “I view him as one of my best pitching coaches because of how long I’ve been with him and how much I’ve grown with him. So to have him close now, it’s gonna be really beneficial for me.”
While Buehler has some of the best stuff in baseball, he is also well versed in analytics and some of the science behind pitching as a noted Driveline Baseball enthusiast.
He also often tinkers with mechanics and pitch grips based on data, making him a great option to look to as a pitching coach.
Although Fulmer was selected 16 spots before Buehler in the 2015 Draft, he has thus far struggled to find any footing at the Major League level while Buehler has developed into one of the game’s best pitchers.
This past season Fulmer appeared in 20 games for the Cincinnati Reds, posting a 6.66 ERA and 4.69 FIP across 25.2 innings. In his career, the right-hander owns a 6.41 ERA and 5.93 FIP across 130.2 innings.
Dodgers DFA Fulmer
What made Fulmer intriguing is he still has elite fastball and curveball spin rates, which is an area the Dodgers are always on the lookout for.
Fulmer began the season with Triple-A Oklahoma City but spent two days with the Dodgers as the corresponding move to Mitch White being placed on the COVID injured list. However, Fulmer’s time with the organization may have come to an end as he was designated for assignment.
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