James Fegan is in North Carolina this week, and although the weather isn't cooperating, rainouts didn't prevent him from catching up with Carson Fulmer.
Fulmer's previous self-assessments always ended with him envisioning himself as an MLB starter, but it hasn't taken him long to embrace the transition to relief work. While the early results, like his command, are a little scattershot, Fegan outlines why it stands a much better chance of working for him in the long run:
So far, Fulmer would describe his relief experience — beyond his previous times in college and his major league debut and enough other stretches to make it old hat — as four good appearances out of five. He’s covered 6 1/3 innings, struck out five, walked three and allowed two earned runs while holding opposing hitters to a .222/.333/.278 batting line. The results are generally positive, but the sample is too thin to really draw conclusions. The glimpses — a scintillating inning on Friday when he pumped 94 mph, spun a few knee-buckling curves and looked at the height of his powers, and a battle for his control on Sunday that he was able to find one pitch to diffuse — were more convincing he’s in a good spot. His good moments were really good, and he’s not in a spot where he can dig a deep hole during his bad ones.
Birmingham 6, Tennessee 4
- Joel Booker went 0-for-3 with a walk.
- Luis Alexander Basabe went 1-for-3 with a walk and strikeout.
- Zack Collins doubled, walked and struck out twice.
- Ryan Cordell was 1-for-4 with two strikeouts.
- Alex Call had a night: 3-for-4 with two homers and a double.
- Ryan Burr: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Frederick 4, Winston-Salem 3
- Luis Gonzalez went 1-for-5 with a triple and a strikeout.
- Laz Rivera, 0-for-5 with two strikeouts.
- Blake Rutherford, 1-for-4 with a strikeout.
- Gavin Sheets doubled, singled and struck out twice.
- Ti'Quan Forbes went 1-for-4.
Great Falls 6, Grand Junction 3
- Steele Walker left the game after a third-inning popout, but he was hit by a pitch to start the game. He stole a base.
- Amado Nunez went 3-for-5 with a double and a strikeout.
- Jhoandro Alfaro was 1-for-4 with a homer.
- Maiker Feliz, 1-for-4 with two strikeouts.
- Jonathan Stiever: 2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
AZL Indians2 18, AZL White Sox 3
- Cabera Weaver and Lency Delgado both were 1-for-4 with a triple and a strikeout.
- Bryce Bush, 1-for-4 with two strikeouts.
- Luis Mieses was 1-for-4.
- Harvin Mendoza was 0-for-2 with a walk and an HBP. He was picked off.
- Kleyder Sanchez was 0-for-4 with a K.
- Anderson Comas, 2-for-4.
- Kelvin Maldonado went 1-for-3 with a K.
- Aaron Soto had to wear it: 3.1 IP, 10 H, 11 R, 11 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 2 HR, 1 WP
- Hunter Kiel: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 WP
- Brayant Nova pitched: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, and a balk.
DSL White Sox 5, DSL Orioles 4
- Harold Diaz went 2-for-3 with a walk, HBP and a stolen base.
- Jefferson Mendoza, 1-for-5 with a strikeout.
- Jerrick Francees was 2-for-4 with a K.
