In the 2015 MLB Draft, Carson Fulmer was selected by the Chicago White Sox with the eighth overall pick. Fulmer was a unique pitcher with exceptional delivery who was highly competitive. That’s what originally gained him a high draft position.
Less than a year later, he was in the majors and things had already changed a little. A few years later, after spending some time with the big league club, his techniques were nearly unrecognizable.
What caused those modifications? Fulmer clarified to our Duke Coughlin, Jordan Lazowski, and Nik Gaur that the White Sox made the decision very early on in his tenure with the team—nearly right away after he signed a contract.
That’s exactly what I found to be most effective. That’s how productive I was. I descended the mound in this manner. That’s how I produced energy. It was not a delivery reminiscent of Greg Maddux. That was one area that I don’t think the organization and I truly agreed on, is that right? “Man, I don’t know if this is gonna this is gonna really meet up with our expectations,” they said after seeing the maximum delivery. Not to mention if you sort of look at the study and say, “That’s how I move the best,” It’s how I maintain my health. I relieve a lot of stress from my arm by moving so quickly.
If it wasn’t obvious, Fulmer disagreed with the choice made by Don Cooper, the pitching coach at the time, and his staff. But he choose to listen, a young rookie just trying to compete and leave his mark.
“There were a few of us who were arguing, and I was furious.” I had no desire to alter. That’s not what I wanted to do. Ultimately, though, the question was, “Do I accept this new system? Do I accept Coop’s argument? Do I really want to get along well with these guys in order to get through the system? Indeed. I have to accept this system as it is. I have to make a change. I have to comply with their requests. That’s when things started to go a little south for me. Hey, it was my choice, after all. It was me who did it, and I’m still struggling with it now.
– Carson Fulmer discussing his mentality while adjusting his mechanics (via Sox On 35th Podcast)