Where’s the hype?
Michael Fulmer, SP: Unlike the previous two players to have the spotlight shined on them, Michael Fulmer is a name that many Mets fans are familiar with. Fulmer was on most if not all people’s top prospects list and he was ranked towards the top. So why shine the spotlight on him? Many people recognize his potential, but this kid deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Matt Harvey and Zack Wheeler.
There were reasons the Mets gave Fulmer almost a million dollars (937.5 million) to sign – his stuff and his age. At 19 years old, Fulmer already hits 94 mph on his fastball to go along with an 80 mph slider. His changeup is still a work in progress like many younger pitchers. He is so young and with a nice frame (6’3”, 200 lbs) that it is almost impossible not to imagine him developing more speed on his fastball as he gets older and grows into his frame. Considering he should start knocking on the door to the Majors in four years, he has a lot of time to work out the kinks in his changeup.
The Mets decided to start Fulmer’s professional career in Savannah, which was a bit of a surprise. Instead of keeping him in extended spring training and then moving him to short season A ball, the Mets placed him at a fairly high level. According to Paul DePodesta, the Mets VP of player development, there was a valid reason for this:
“Fulmer has the chance to join a staff led by Frank Viola that will have three accomplished college starters in the rotation. That has the potential to be a great developmental experience for him.”
When a man is right he deserves to get his credit and boy was DePodesta right. That is not to say that Fulmer saw immediate success though because his first two months were a learning process. After April and May his stat line read: 9 games started (GS), 38.2 IP, 37 K, and 15 BB with a 3.54 ERA. This is a nice stat line for a 19 year old making his professional debut, but nothing to get overly excited about.
However, he started to turn it around in June and it has only gotten better in July. His in these two months read: 7 GS, 42.1 IP, 35 K, and 15 BB with a 1.86 ERA. Now that is impressive. The reason for this turnaround is mechanical. According to Savannah manager, Luis Rojas, Fulmer has been working with Viola on tweaking his delivery all season long:
“He’s closing a little bit more with his front hip. That gives him more rhythm and staying with more direction toward home plate and that’s what’s making him repeat the same release point. Instead of elevating his pitches, he’s finishing out there and able to spot that pitch side to side”
Now with a tighter delivery, Fulmer has been dominating. In the South Atlantic League, Fulmer is fourth in ERA, second in opponents’ batting average, and third in WHIP. He’s probably a couple starts away from a promotion to St. Lucie to end the year. When he gets a better feel for that change up, he’s going to be a force to reckon with. If he adds even more speed to his fastball as he matures, Fulmer has the potential to anchor a major league rotation as a #2 starter. Can this Mets fan dream of a pitcher who will one day be better than Harvey? How’s that for hype?
Like to add a special thanks to Toby Hyde for getting such a great quote from Luis Rojas
Fulmer is actually first in ERA and second in WHIP.
Hi Kelsey! You are correct, as of right now your stats are up to date. This article was written Friday night and wasn’t published until Sunday afternoon, so those stats were true at the time the article was written. Thank you for pointing out the updated stats and next time I will date stamp my stats.
Hi Stephen,
I was just reading your latest on Michael Fulmer; I taught him English in the 8th grade at Deer Creek HS in Oklahoma. He was a good student and so polite. Looking at your name, it appears to be of Greek origin, especially your last name. We are Greek in this household, but with a name like “Darlene,” you would know I am not. I enjoyed your fine observations about Mike and hope to see many more positive remarks about him in the future.
Darlene Pagonis
Hi Darlene,
I’m not Stephen but I just wanted to say that I’m really happy that you took the time to write us this note. It never ceases to amaze me that we can reach people who have connections to these professional athletes and that they can tell us what they were like way back when. I’m glad to hear that he was a nice young man and we are all rooting for him to make the majors and do well.
Brian Joura
Thanks for commenting, Darlene. Like Brian said you won’t find a Mets fan that isn’t rooting for Fulmer to succeed!
Great article Stephen. Im looking forward to hearing more about and from him. We cant have enough pitching IMO.
You can never have enough pitching, Chris. This is the best collection of arms the Mets have had in a really long time as well. Even if some of these prospects don’t pan out as starters, a lot of them have the potential to be dominate relievers. As we all now from this season, bullpen pieces are as important as starters. Hopefully our future closer is pitching somewhere in our system right now.
Same breath as Harvey and Wheeler? I’m optimistic but that’s a bit much.
Dominating Savannah isn’t that impressive. Brandon Moore, James Fuller, Mark Cohoon and a certain no name fella called Jacob DeGrom have done that.
Let him “dominate” Port St. Lucie or higher before we start calling him the next Matt Harvey.
Cohoon was 22, Fuller 23, Moore 24 (as is deGrom right now) Fulmer’s 19 and talented enough to be drafted in the 1st round of the most talented draft class in years, maybe ever. Cohoon, Fuller and Moore were like 12th-21st rounders in average draft classes. No guarantee of course but something to be excited about.
Exactly my point — these guys are all older than Fulmer. Fulmer should not be producing the numbers he is right now in the league he’s in. He’s been nearly unhittable the past two months. He shouldve been starting in Brooklyn with Nimmo, but he went straight to long season ball and has THRIVED. Some people will downplay the results because of the league he’s in and I appreciate that point of view, but at his age the hype surrounding him is well deserved. He’s still fairly young for the South Atlantic League.
Respect your opinion, David. Not sure why you have dominate in quotation marks. As of right now he’s in at least the top 5 of most pitching categories. You have a nice little collection of names there but they all have something in common. They all can walk into a bar and order a drink…Fulmer is two years away from that! Fulmer is 19 years old and over the last two months he has a sub 2 ERA. That is dominate.
Besides these are the hype files. Hype big or go home!
Fulmer is already being asked about by MLB teams at 19 in the Sally League. That says more about him than anything. AAA depth in 2015 and a late season call? That would be fantastic and a lot better than resigning Pedro Feliciano.
Knowing when to say when is a big part of being a GM. Lot of work being done below the Major League level and for that we should be thankful………as well as patient.
I agree on all points.
Stephen, keep on hyping. This gets better with each hype. Fulmer is a name to follow.
This gives us reason to believe that the front office may be on the ball.
NormE, thanks for the continued support and kind words. Maybe I’ll write my next Hype Files about you, buddy!
LOL
A 70 year old retiree who could never hit a curveball needs no hype, Stephen. But thanks for the thought, and keep up the good work!
Saw him pitch on May 12th. Went 5 innings, 4H, 2ER, 1BB, 7K’s. I was impressed but thought he was just another good arm in the system. Only 19 yoa, now that makes it more impressive. I especially liked how he pitched out of trouble when he gave up the 2 runs.
This is the best HYPE file yet! Sign me up for Fulmer, this guy is a beast. Anyone who is debating your facts is ignoring the truth, Stephen. Great job!