Carson Fulmer: Prospect Profile for Chicago White Sox's 1st-Round Pick

Player: Carson Fulmer

Position: RHP

DOB: 12/13/1993 (Age: 21)

Height/Weight: 5'11", 195 lbs

Bats/Throws: R/R

School: Plant High School (Fla.)

Previously Drafted: 2012 (15th round, BOS)

Background

Scouts flocking to Hawkins Field at Vanderbilt University is nothing new, as the school has produced six first-round picks in the past eight years, including names like David Price and Sonny Gray. Three more names figure to be added to that list Monday, as shortstop Dansby Swanson and pitchers Carson Fulmer and Walker Buehler are each projected to be taken in the first round.

In fact, after a strong finish to the regular season, many view Fulmer as the best arm in the entire draft.

The undersized righty was squarely on the draft radar coming out of high school, and he likely would have been an early selection if not for an iron-clad commitment to Vanderbilt.

In his senior season at All Saints' Academy in Winter Haven, Florida, he was 9-0 with a 0.27 ERA and 161 strikeouts in 77 innings of work.

Fulmer pitched out of the bullpen for the Commodores as a freshman, going 3-0 with four saves, a 2.39 ERA and 8.7 K/9 to earn a place on the Freshman All-American team. 

With that performance out of the pen, Fulmer began his sophomore season as the Vanderbilt closer before eventually joining the rotation to make 10 starts. All told, he was 7-1 with 10 saves, a 1.98 ERA, 1.121 WHIP and 95 strikeouts in 91 innings of work to earn a place on the All-SEC Second Team.

He pitched for Team USA last summer and held opponents to a .141 average and just one extra-base hit in 24.2 innings while leading the staff with three wins and a 0.73 ERA.

"With his mound presence and stuff, he's got a chance to be a front-line closer in the big leagues," Team USA pitching coach and Texas A&M head coach Rob Childress told Jim Callis of MLB.com. "I'm not saying he can't start, but his presence within the team is special, and it's not just mound presence. To have that one or two times a week as a starter isn't as special as having it four or five times a week as a closer."

Already viewed as a potential top-10 pick heading into his junior season, Fulmer has only boosted his stock with a fantastic season that has him as one of four finalists for the Golden Spikes award.

Stepping into the role of staff ace, he's gone 12-2 with a 1.92 ERA, 1.040 WHIP and 147 strikeouts in 107.2 innings, and his season is not over, with Vanderbilt vying for a spot in the College World Series once again.

Pick Analysis

Nati Harnik/Associated Press

Fulmer has nasty stuff, but his undersized frame and max-effort delivery may play better out of the bullpen as a pro.

In fact, Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com's Prospect Watch said just that in his scouting report:

"

Fulmer has an electric arm that delivers 93-97-mph fastballs and power breaking balls. His changeup is an effective third pitch and coaches and scouts alike rave about his competitive makeup. Some scouts think he'd be best off channeling his energy into becoming a closer because he lacks size, his delivery features effort and his control can get wobbly at times.

"

As an early first-round pick, he'll likely get every chance to show he is capable of starting to begin his pro career.

At the same time, he has the repertoire and makeup to move quickly if he moves to the bullpen full time.

MLB Player Comparison: Carlos Martinez

Michael Thomas/Getty Images

With Fulmer an undersized right-hander out of Vanderbilt with a plus curveball, the comparisons to Sonny Gray are inevitable, and it's not completely unwarranted by any means. However, a better all-around comparison is St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Carlos Martinez.

Both pitchers are a ball of energy on the mound, and both have electric fastballs with breaking ball/changeup combination that can be dominant at times.

Reigning in that energy and honing his command will be the key to Fulmer progressing through the pro ranks, and those are the same hurdles Martinez has been dealing with while making the transition from relieving to starting.

Projection: Elite closer, No. 3 starter

Major League ETA: 2017

Chances of Signing: 99 percent

There is really nothing Fulmer can do to further boost his stock, unless he were to suddenly grow three or four inches over the next year, so expect him to sign.

All statistics and background information on Fulmer come courtesy of MaxPreps and VUCommodores.com.