Morneau among 3 White Sox roster moves

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - The Chicago White Sox reinstated first baseman Justin Morneau from the 15-day disabled list after a rehab assignment in Double-A, and they purchased the contract of right-hander Carson Fulmer from Double-A Birmingham and optioned outfielder Jason Coats to Class-AAA Charlotte.

Morneau, who is recovering from offseason elbow surgery and was signed on June 9, was called up Friday. Morneau, 35, is a career .282 hitter with 241 home runs in 13 major league seasons.

Morneau struggled in his eight rehab games, going 4 for 23 with two RBIs and four strikeouts.

"I went down and accomplished what I needed to accomplish," Morneau said.

Fulmer, 22, was taken in the first round of the 2015 draft out of Vanderbilt and is the first player from that draft to make the major leagues.

"I've been waiting my whole life for this," Fulmer said. "I'm trying to soak in every moment."

Fulmer has only been a starter in the minors, but for now the White Sox plan to use him as a reliever.

"I did it a little bit in college," he said. "I'm comfortable with starting, relieving."

Fulmer was called up from Birmingham, where he was 4-9 with a 4.76 ERA. He had 90 strikeouts in 87 innings and limited left-handed hitters to a .212 average. In his last three starts, he had a 0.95 ERA with a streak of 15 consecutive scoreless innings.

"We're at a point where our guys felt he was ready to contribute," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "Obviously we're banged up in the back end of the bullpen. Hopefully he can fill that up and be useful."

Morneau was not in the lineup Friday in Chicago's second-half opener against the Angels. Ventura said the left-handed hitting Morneau would not be an everyday player initially, though he would not be used in a straight platoon.