Fulmer Tigers' Lone Prospect In MLB.com's Top 100
By Dan Jenkins
@DanTJenkins
The Detroit Tigers never really had a strong farm system during Dave Dombrowski's tenure as president and general manager of the team, but that is something that new GM Al Avila has said he wants to change.
However, it's one of Dombrowski's final moves in Detroit that got the Tigers a player on the MLB's list of top 100 prospects in baseball.
Michael Fulmer, a right-handed pitcher who played for Double-A Erie last season, cracks the list at No. 53.
"Fulmer's stuff and his command of it all took steps forward in 2015. He kept his sinking fastball, which easily reaches the mid-90s, down in the zone and induced a lot of groundball outs. His slider is a swing-and-miss pitch and he mixes in an average curve ball as well. His changeup is fringy, but it gives him a fourth look to offer hitters. Fulmer has improved his walk rate every year and could have above-average command when all is said and done.
There isn't much more Fulmer needs to do in the Minor Leagues. The Tigers should see a big league return for the Cespedes deal in the near future. Once thought to be a bullpen candidate, there is no talk of making Fulmer a reliever, with the chance for him to be a mid-rotation standout more than reasonable."
The Tigers acquired Fulmer, 22, at the trade deadline in the deal that sent outfielder Yoenis Cespedes to the New York Mets. Fulmer could work his way into the Tigers' rotation at some point in 2016 if someone hits the disabled list or if free agent signee Mike Pelfrey doesn't pan out.
In six starts for the SeaWolves in 2015, Fulmer posted a 2.84 ERA with 33 strikeouts in 33.2 innings.
Tigers left-hander Daniel Norris was left off the list because he is no longer eligible after pitching more than 50 innings in 2015.
