Fulmer honored to be drafted by White Sox
So what did Carson Fulmer do Monday night after the Chicago White Sox selected him with the No. 8 overall pick in the draft?
The standout starting pitcher from Vanderbilt went to Buffalo Wild Wings in downstate Champaign and watched baseball. More specifically, White Sox baseball.
"After the celebration and everything, I was able to go out to eat with my family that was in town," Fulmer said. "My two sisters, my two brothers and their spouses. That's the first thing we wanted to do. We wanted to go see Chris Sale throw live. We sat there and watched until he came out. That was definitely one of the things that I wanted to do."
Earlier Monday, Fulmer and the Commodores beat Illinois in the Super Regionals to advance to the College World Series.
There was obviously a lot to celebrate.
"This is definitely an honor," said Fulmer, who is 13-2 with a 1.82 ERA in 17 starts for Vanderbilt heading into the CWS. "Growing up and seeing a guy like Chris Sale from my hometown (Lakeland, Florida) with the White Sox and the impact that he's made on the organization. I was pumped up for it. I definitely wanted to become a part of the White Sox organization.
"I'm pumped up for the opportunity, and I definitely want to make an impact right away."
After he wraps up his college career, Fulmer is likely to be a quick sign. Like Sale, the Sox' No. 13 overall pick in 2010, he could debut later this season out of the bullpen.
"Personally, I view myself as a starter," said Fulmer, who has a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. "I feel like I've built a really good endurance level, I feel like I've been able to keep my stuff late into games and that was definitely something I had go out and pitch to prove. I know that throughout the years I've been labeled as a reliever.
"I view that as a challenge, something I definitely wanted to go out and prove. But starting, relieving, whatever's going to help the team and help them win a bunch of ballgames is the biggest thing for me. I'm definitely one to do whatever."
More draft:
After signing free agents David Robertson and Melky Cabrera in the off-season, the White Sox forfeited their second- and third-round draft picks.
On the fourth round Tuesday, the Sox selected Clemson's Zack Erwin, a left-handed starting pitcher who was 7-4 with a 3.04 ERA this season.
The Sox went local on the seventh round with Iowa pitcher Blake Hickman, who is from south suburban Palos Hills. On the ninth round, they drafted Illinois-Chicago pitcher Ryan Hinchley, who is from Elmhurst.
The quote:
"In a nutshell, he's executing pitches. I'd say (Monday), we only threw two or three pitches that we missed that were over the plate. Other than that, when he misses he's missing in good spots, in off, away off, down, even a couple of them over the middle that he got up in the zone" - catcher Tyler Flowers on Chris Sale, who allowed 1 run and struck out 14 in Monday night's 3-1 win over Houston.