White Sox promote Fulmer to Major Leagues

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (July 15, 2016) - The Chicago White Sox announced Friday that right-handed pitcher Carson Fulmer, the team's 2015 first-round pick and a key contributor to the Dash's second half Southern Division championship last year, has earned his first promotion to the Major Leagues. Fulmer becomes the 347th Winston-Salem alumnus to climb to the Majors, while he is the 39th to accomplish the feat during the Dash era (2009-present).

The eighth overall selection by Chicago in the 2015 Draft, Fulmer joined Winston-Salem on July 23, 2015, and immediately gave the club a boost. The Dash went 8-0 in games he pitched, with the former Vanderbilt Commodore posting a 2.05 ERA in 22 innings of work. During that stretch, the flamethrower punched out 25 batters and allowed just 16 hits. Fulmer yielded one run in his final 17 innings of work in 2015.

In his final regular season start of 2015, Fulmer helped Winston-Salem clinch a Southern Division title by tossing three shutout innings in a 5-0 win at Wilmington on September 3. Six days later, Fulmer pitched another three strong frames during the Dash's Game 1 win over Myrtle Beach in the Southern Division Championship Series.

Prior to his big league promotion, the 22-year-old was with Double-A Birmingham. In 17 starts for the Barons, Fulmer went 4-9 with a 4.76 ERA. However, in his last three starts, he logged a 0.95 ERA and 22 strikeouts over 19 innings. The White Sox top prospect per MLB Pipeline, Fulmer appeared in the MLB Futures Game on Sunday and struck out two batters for Team USA in a perfect inning of relief.

Before joining the White Sox organization, Fulmer put together an illustrious three-year collegiate career at Vanderbilt University from 2013-15. After starring as a reliever in his freshman year, the Florida native burst into starting rotation during his sophomore campaign and soared to national prominence.

Fulmer won the deciding Game 3 of the 2014 College World Series against the University of Virginia, allowing one run in 5.2 frames. Last year, he received the National Pitcher of the Year Award and the SEC Pitcher of the Year Award after going 14-2 with a 1.83 ERA in 19 starts for the Commodores.  

Fulmer is the eighth Winston-Salem alumnus to suit up in a big league uniform for the first time in 2016. Catcher Omar Narvaez was promoted to the parent club on July 6, but has yet to appear in a game. Shortstop Tim Anderson, outfielder Jason Coats and right-hander Tyler Danish were called up in the span of a week in June and all three have seen action in the majors. The White Sox also promoted right-hander Michael Ynoa and catcher Kevin Smith early this season.

Right-hander J.B. Wendelken, whom the White Sox traded last offseason, is the lone player to don a different big league jersey. The 23-year-old made his debut with Oakland in May, becoming the second former Dash to make his Major League debut with another team.

Winston-Salem rounds out its three-game set against Potomac on Friday at 7 p.m. Friday's fireworks shows, presented by Black Flag, is the first of two fireworks shows this weekend. The Dash's seven-game homestand also features a Chick-fil-A Four Pack Night and much more. For tickets, call (336) 714-2287 or visit wsdash.com.