Familiar White Sox sight: Fulmer packing up for the minors
Following Saturday night's lopsided loss to the Red Sox, there was a familiar sighting in the White Sox's clubhouse.
It was Carson Fulmer, quietly packing up his belongings after being optioned back to the minor leagues.
For the second time this season, Fulmer was demoted to Class AAA Charlotte.
In 2018, Fulmer opened the year in the Sox's rotation and was sent down after going 2-4 with an 8.07 ERA.
Much more was expected from Fulmer, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2015 draft, but so far the 25-year-old righty is 9-12 with a 6.72 ERA in 48 career games (20 starts) with the White Sox.
Along with fellow relief pitcher Jose Ruiz, Fulmer was optioned to Charlotte after Saturday's 15-2 loss to Boston. Throwing strikes was the biggest issue - Fulmer walked 11 in 10.1 innings of relief while posting a 6.97 ERA.
Sox manager Rick Renteria is not pulling the plug on the one-time top pitching prospect.
"He's still figuring in to be a part of this," Renteria said. "Right now, if by sending him out is any indication that he's not, I would come back and say a lot of usage has precipitated his need to be sent down.
"I think we see him as a part of who we are and he's going to work on attacking the strike zone and putting himself in the position where we continue to call for him to help us out here at the major-league level."
Roster moves:
After demoting Carson Fulmer and Jose Ruiz Saturday, the White Sox recalled left-handed reliever Caleb Frare from Class AAA Charlotte and purchased right-hander Juan Minaya's contract from Triple-A.
Frare opened the season with the Sox and was optioned to Charlotte after posting a 6.75 ERA in 4 appearances. He walked the only Red Sox batter he faced Sunday and was sent back to Charlotte after the loss.
Minaya, who was 6-4 with a 3.93 ERA and 10 saves for the White Sox from 2016-18, was 2-1 with a 5.51 ERA and 2 saves for Charlotte this year.
Jay update:
Injured outfielder Jon Jay (hip/groin) has been sidelined since the season started, and he was moved to the 60-day injured list Sunday.
Jay is eligible to be activated on May 27, and he could be ready soon after that date.
On Monday, the 34-year-old outfielder reports to Arizona for extended spring training.
"We'll start ramping up his in game activity there over the course of the next 10 to 14 days," general manager Rick Hahn said. "Hopefully at some point there after, he'll be able to join one of our affiliates and start a true rehab assignment. He's progressing, but until we get him playing in games on a consistent basis he won't truly be tested."
Renteria fan:
Rick Renteria was bench coach in 2016, Chris Sale's final season with the White Sox.
Renteria took over as Sox manager the next year, and Sale is not surprised.
"He's a great baseball mind, he's a great person," said Sale, now in his third season with the Red Sox. "I think he's a guy that can get anybody in that clubhouse or anybody in any clubhouse to buy into something. He's a fun guy to be around, but he's that no-BS type.
"He wants you to run hard, he expects the best out of you. I think we've seen that at times from him as a manager already, and I think that's where the respect comes from. I think he's the right guy in the right place for what they've got going on. I'm happy for him."