IL notes: Fulmer adjusting with Mud Hens

Toledo's Michael Fulmer knows he's being watched.

There are a variety of reasons the 23-year-old right-hander has so many eyes critiquing his every start. One is that he began the season as the Tigers' top-ranked prospect. Another is that he was the key player Detroit received in the trade that sent Yoenis Cespedes to the Mets. A third is that he was named the 2015 Eastern League Pitcher of the Year.

No matter the reason, Fulmer said he will not change his two-pronged focus for this season. He hopes to continue to sharpen all of his pitches while giving the Mud Hens a chance to win every time he starts.

"I think my changeup has progressed a lot since the start of the season," he said. "I was emphasizing working on it in Spring Training. I think my slider also is doing well. The one thing I need to emphasize is fastball command. If I can establish my fastball, especially inside, I think I can open up the outer part of the plate more."

Fulmer said that focus on giving his team a chance to win, as well as staying healthy, was the key to his Double-A success last season. The 6-foot-3, 210-pounder was 10-3 with an Eastern League-leading 2.12 ERA and 8.9 strikeouts per nine innings.

"I was so happy just to be healthy [in 2015]," said Fulmer, who suffered a torn right meniscus in 2013 and underwent surgery to remove bone chips in his elbow the following season. "And I approached every start with the goal of just getting my team the 'W.' I had good stretches, but I didn't focus on them as much as I did on just competing."

Fulmer was impressive in his first Triple-A start, a 3-0 win over Indianapolis on April 12 in which he allowed four hits and a walk while striking out seven in 5 2/3 innings.

"I thought Fulmer's stuff, at times, was electric," Toledo manager Lloyd McClendon said after that outing. "I thought he commanded the strike zone well. He had a good fastball, good sinker and good slider."

Fulmer gave up five hits and two runs -- one earned -- over 5 1/3 innings in a no-decision at Louisville on April 17, then suffered his first loss on April 22 after surrendering three homers at Columbus.

"They were just better than me, and that's going to happen," Fulmer said following the start against the Clippers. "I feel fine, I feel healthy and that's all that matters in the first month of the season."

The biggest difference Fulmer has noticed between Double-A and Triple-A hitters is that International Leaguers have been more aggressive in swinging at fastballs.

"I think a lot of these guys can hit a fastball, no matter what speed it is, so I have to adjust," he said. "I have to locate it better, command it better and mix it up with my other pitches more."

In brief

No adjustment necessary: Norfolk's Christian Walker has moved from first base to the outfield, but that hasn't affected his hitting. The Orioles' No. 11 prospect batted .281 in his first 16 games with four homers and 12 RBIs. Those four homers are tied for the IL lead and he ranks fifth in RBIs while tying for the top spot in extra-base hits (nine) and standing fifth in homers per at-bat ratio (one every 16.00 ABs).

Dynamic duo: Rochester has benefited from the strong 1-2 punch of right-handers Alex Meyer and Jose Berrios. The 6-foot-9 Meyer is 1-1 with a 1.04 ERA in first three games, striking out 19 in 17 1/3 innings. Berrios is 2-0 with a 1.06 ERA and 20 strikeouts over 17 innings in three starts. Meyer begins the week ranked fifth in the IL in ERA, while Berrios is right behind him in sixth.

He said it: "It's definitely different [playing first base]. Everything's backwards and there's a lot more to do at first base than third with cutoffs and all that stuff. With third, if you don't know where to go, you just go to the bag. I've played third my whole life, so it's nice to get some reps somewhere else. You don't want to say it keeps you more interested in the game, but it gets you going a little bit more." --Buffalo IF Matt Dominguez to the Buffalo News. Dominguez won the Minor League Gold Glove for his play at third base last year, but he's already has played three games at first for the Bisons. He's also hitting .310 with two homers and 13 RBI in 16 contests.

He said it, part II: "I hit a little bit in college [at Lipscomb University]. I can swing it a little bit, anything I can do to help the team out." --Louisville RHP Josh Smith to the Louisville Courier-Journal on April 23. His single was the lone hit in the Bats' 1-0 loss to Indianapolis. Smith was the hard-luck loser after giving up six hits and one run over seven innings. On the season, he's 2-1 with a 0.50 ERA.