| Michael Fulmer | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Fulmer with theOmaha Storm Chasers in 2025 | |||||||||||||||
| Free agent | |||||||||||||||
| Pitcher | |||||||||||||||
| Born: (1993-03-15)March 15, 1993 (age 32) Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. | |||||||||||||||
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |||||||||||||||
| MLB debut | |||||||||||||||
| April 29, 2016, for the Detroit Tigers | |||||||||||||||
| MLB statistics (through 2025 season) | |||||||||||||||
| Win–loss record | 37–50 | ||||||||||||||
| Earned run average | 3.95 | ||||||||||||||
| Strikeouts | 578 | ||||||||||||||
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |||||||||||||||
| Teams | |||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||
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Medals
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Michael Joseph Fulmer (born March 15, 1993) is an American professionalbaseballpitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theDetroit Tigers,Minnesota Twins,Chicago Cubs, andBoston Red Sox. Fulmer won the American LeagueRookie of the Year Award in 2016, and was anAll-Star in2017.
Fulmer attended Deer Creek High School inEdmond, Oklahoma. As a senior, he went 10–2 with a 0.72earned run average (ERA), 127strikeouts and also hit .436 with sixhome runs.[1] Fulmer committed to playcollege baseball for theArkansas Razorbacks.[2]
Fulmer was drafted by theNew York Mets in the first round of the2011 Major League Baseball Draft.[3][4] He made his professional debut that season with the rookie leagueGulf Coast Mets, where he had a 0–1 record with a 10.13 ERA and 10 strikeouts in four appearances, three of them starts.
Fulmer started 21 games for theSavannah Sand Gnats in 2012.[5] He went 7–6 during the year with a 2.74 ERA and 101 strikeouts over108+1⁄3 innings. Prior to the 2013 season, Fulmer was ranked byBaseball America as the Mets' seventh best prospect.[6] He pitched in only nine games that season between the rookie league Gulf Coast Mets and the class A advancedSt. Lucie Mets due to injuries.[7] He finished the year with a 3.33 ERA and a 3–3 record with 42 strikeouts. Fulmer started 2014 with St. Lucie and finished the year with the Double-ABinghamton Mets. He started 20 games, going 6–11 with a 4.38 ERA and 87 strikeouts.
On July 31, 2015, the Mets traded Fulmer andLuis Cessa to theDetroit Tigers forYoenis Céspedes.[8] Fulmer was named theEastern League Pitcher of the Week for the week ending August 9, 2015. He started two games for the double AErie SeaWolves during that time and had a 2–0 record with 11 strikeouts and a 0.00 ERA. He led the league in strikeouts (11) and tied for the lead in wins (2) and ERA (0.00).[9] On August 28, 2015, Fulmer was named the Eastern League Pitcher of the Year, and was named as the starting pitcher on the Eastern League All-Star team. Fulmer finished the season 10–3 with a 2.24 ERA and 125 strikeouts in 22 starts for Erie and Binghamton.[10] The Tigers added him to their 40-man roster after the season.[11]
On March 18, 2016, the Tigers optioned Fulmer to theTriple-AToledo Mud Hens.[12] Fulmer was called up and made his major league debut on April 29, against theMinnesota Twins.[13] Fulmer earned the win in his debut, allowing two earned runs over five innings and striking out four in a 9–2 Tigers victory.[14] On May 21, Fulmer had his first home start atComerica Park inDetroit, where he gave up just one earned run and recorded 11 strikeouts over seven innings, defeating theTampa Bay Rays. Fulmer became the firstDetroit Tigers rookie pitcher to strike out 11 opposing batters in one game sincePat Underwood in1979.[15] On June 1, Fulmer no-hit theLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim for6+2⁄3 innings before surrendering a two-out single in the 7th toC. J. Cron. He wound up allowing two hits and no runs over7+2⁄3 innings.[16] On June 6, Fulmer pitched six scoreless innings, while allowing only two hits against theToronto Blue Jays. Fulmer became the first pitcher in Tigers history to pitch three consecutive scoreless outings of six innings or more while allowing three or fewer hits.
On June 12, Fulmer pitched six scoreless innings, while allowing only two hits against theNew York Yankees. Fulmer became just the second pitcher in Major League history to pitch four consecutive scoreless outings of six innings or more while allowing three or fewer hits, joiningJake Arrieta.[17] On June 17, Fulmer's scoreless streak ended at33+1⁄3 innings, surpassing the previous Tiger rookie record of28+2⁄3 scoreless innings set byJohn Hiller in1967. This was also the longest consecutive scoreless innings streak by a rookie pitcher in baseball sinceOrel Hershiser threw 32 scoreless innings in1984, but fell short of the all-time rookie record of 35 consecutive scoreless innings set byFernando Valenzuela in1981.[18] On July 1, Fulmer pitched seven scoreless innings against the Tampa Bay Rays, allowing only two hits and striking out ten. Fulmer became the first Tigers pitcher since at least 1913 to allow one or zero runs in eight consecutive starts.[19]
On August 14, Fulmer recorded his first career major leaguecomplete game and first careershutout against theTexas Rangers.[20] He finished the 2016 season with an 11–7 record, 3.06 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and 132 strikeouts in 159 innings pitched. He had the lowestleft on base percentage of all major league pitchers, stranding 65.6% of base runners.[21]
Following the conclusion of the season, Fulmer was named theSporting News AL Rookie of the Year, as voted on by a panel of players, finishing ahead ofTyler Naquin andGary Sánchez, and was named theMajor League Baseball Players Association Players Choice Award forAL Outstanding Rookie.[22][23] Fulmer was also awarded theBaseball Writers' Association of America ALRookie of the Year Award, receiving 26 of 30 first-place votes.[24][25]
For the first half of the 2017 season, Fulmer went 9–6 with a 3.19 ERA and 13quality starts, earning him his first American League All-Star selection.[26] On August 3, he was placed on the 10-day disabled list due to right elbow ulnar neuritis.[27] An MRI revealed no ligament damage.[28] Fulmer was reactivated from the DL on August 14.[29] On September 11, it was announced that Fulmer would undergo elbow surgery for ulnar nerve transposition, ending his season.[30] He finished 2017 with a 10–12 record, 3.83 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and 114 strikeouts in164+2⁄3 innings.
After pitching to a 3–9 record, with a 4.50 ERA prior to the 2018 All-Star break, Fulmer was placed on the 10-day disabled list July 20 with a left oblique strain.[31] In his final start of the season on September 15, against theCleveland Indians, he left the game without recording an out, after allowing two home runs on five pitches. On September 20, Fullmer underwent surgery on atorn meniscus in his right knee. He finished the 2018 season with a 3–12 record, with a 4.69 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 110 strikeouts in132+1⁄3 innings. His ERA, WHIP and hits allowed per nine innings (8.7) were all career highs.[32]
On February 15, 2019, the Tigers signed Fulmer to a one-year, $2.8 million contract following a salary arbitration hearing.[33][34] On March 19, the Tigers announced that they had recommended season-endingTommy John surgery for Fulmer after he experienced elbow pain during a bullpen session.[35] On March 20, Fulmer revealed that he would undergo the Tommy John surgery and miss the entire 2019 season.
On January 6, 2020, the Tigers signed Fulmer to a one-year, $2.8 million contract to avoid arbitration.[36] Fulmer was medically cleared to be a full participant in the Tigers' delayed (July) spring training for the 2020 season.[37] Fulmer was named to the Tigers opening day roster on July 23. He served in an "opener" role, pitching approximately three innings per start until he built up to more pitches.[38] With the2020 Detroit Tigers, Fulmer appeared in 10 games, compiling a 0–2 record with 8.78 ERA and 20 strikeouts in27+2⁄3 innings pitched.[39]
On January 12, 2021, the Tigers and Fulmer agreed to a one-year, $3.1 million contract, avoiding arbitration.[40] On March 26, Tigers managerA. J. Hinch announced that Fulmer would start the 2021 season in the bullpen.[41] Following an injury toJulio Teherán, Fulmer was added back to the starting rotation. He won his first 2021 start on April 14, allowing two runs and three hits over five innings as the Tigers defeated theHouston Astros, 6–4.[42] Fulmer was soon returned to the bullpen, and recorded his first careersave in an extra-innings win over theBoston Red Sox on May 6.[43] Overall in 2021, Fulmer appeared in 52 games (48 in relief), posting a 5–6 record, 2.97 ERA, 14 saves, 21 games finished and 73 strikeouts in69+2⁄3 innings.
On March 22, 2022, Fulmer signed a one-year, $4.95 million contract with the Tigers, avoiding arbitration.[44]
On August 2, 2022, Fulmer was traded to theMinnesota Twins for pitcherSawyer Gipson-Long.[45] He made 26 appearances for Minnesota down the stretch, posting a 2–2 record and 3.70 ERA with 22 strikeouts in24+1⁄3 innings pitched.
On February 20, 2023, Fulmer signed a one-year, $4 million contract with theChicago Cubs.[46] In 58 appearances for Chicago, Fulmer registered a 3–5 record and 4.42 ERA with 65 strikeouts and 2 saves in 57 innings of work. Following the season on October 19, it was announced that Fulmer had undergoneUCL revision surgery and would likely miss the entire 2024 season as a result.[47] He became a free agent following the 2023 season.
On February 8, 2024, Fulmer signed a two-year, minor league contract with theBoston Red Sox.[48]
Fulmer returned to action in 2025, beginning the year with the Triple-AWorcester Red Sox. On April 13, 2025, Boston selected Fulmer's contract, adding him to their active roster.[49] The following day he made his Red Sox debut, allowing 3 runs in2+2⁄3 innings against theTampa Bay Rays. Fulmer wasdesignated for assignment by Boston on April 18.[50] He elected free agency after clearing waivers on April 20.[51]
On April 23, 2025, Fulmer signed a minor league contract with theChicago Cubs. He was designated for assignment on June 26 to make room on the active roster for the returningShota Imanaga.[52] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-AIowa Cubs on June 29, but elected free agency the following day.[53][54]
On July 3, 2025, Fulmer signed a minor league contract with theKansas City Royals.[55] In 15 appearances for the Triple-AOmaha Storm Chasers, he struggled to an 0-1 record and 5.89 ERA with 18 strikeouts and three saves across18+1⁄3 innings pitched. Fulmer was released by the Royals organization on August 16.[56]
On August 19, 2025, Fulmer signed a minor league contract with theSeattle Mariners.[57] He elected free agency on November 6.[58]
Fulmer throws hardfour-seam andtwo-seam fastballs that average 94–97 MPH (topping out at 99 MPH). His offspeed pitches include aslider in the 88-93 MPH (topping out at 95 MPH) range, and achangeup that averages 85–88 MPH (topping out at 91 MPH). After struggling to a 6.52 ERA in his first four major league starts, Fulmer made an effort to throw more changeups. It became a very effective pitch for the rest of the 2016 season, with opponents hitting the pitch at only a .167 clip.[59] In 2017, he started to throw a knuckle curve, averaging 77–80 MPH, which he had formerly thrown in high school. In 2021, Fulmer began adding velocity to his slider, throwing it at an average of 91 MPH.
Fulmer married girlfriend Kelsey Miles in January 2016.[60] He works as a plumber's assistant during the offseason.[61]
