Potential DFA Candidates The Pittsburgh Pirates Should Look Into

Carson Fulmer

Before the White Sox acquired Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez, and Michael Kopech, Carson Fulmer was the Sox’ top pitching prospect. A former top 40 prospect, Fulmer is fighting for a roster spot that he isn’t guaranteed to win.

The right-hander still has a very high ceiling. Fangraphs gives his curveball, change-up, and cutter all above average grades, with his cutter sitting at a 60 (others sitting at 55). Although his fastball is graded out at just 50, his other pitches make up for it. But his biggest issue is his command and control.

Last year at AAA, Fulmer struck out 51 batters in 34 innings and gave up just 2 home runs. Fulmer had a 3.24 FIP and 3.42 DRA, but it’s clear the all the walks came back to bite him. Fulmer walked 21 batters, resulting in a 5.6 BB/9. Control issues have continued to plague him at the major league level, as he has walked 14.2% of all the batters he has faced at the major league level.

Fulmer does have an average exit velocity at the MLB level of 87.5 MPH, which is very good. That would be in the 62nd percentile if he kept that up over an entire MLB season. Fulmer has a really high ceiling and could reach it if he could improve his command/control.

There are all former prospects who are still young and have talent that has not been tapped into just yet.  The Pittsburgh Pirates should definitely take a chance on one of these players if they become available to them.