The last time a pitcher from Lakeland, Florida made a start for the Winston-Salem Dash fresh out of college, four-time All-Star Chris Sale was on the field for his professional debut in 2010 en route to his Major League debut later that August. Tonight another Lakeland kid suited up for Winston-Salem in his second pro game. Could Carson Fulmer be on the same fast track to the Bigs as his predecessor?


Fulmer, who was taken with the eighth overall pick in this past June's draft by the Chicago White Sox, could not have ended his collegiate career any better as in his last game he struck out eight in 7 2/3 scoreless innings on the biggest stage possible, Game 1 of the College World Series. But the Vanderbilt star's performance was not a rare occurance, he had been dominating college hitters since his freshman year when he went 3-0 with 4 saves, a 2.39 ERA, and 51 strikeouts (52 2/3 innings) in 26 games. 


Since his first year in Nashville, Fulmer has only gotten better by significantly improving in all his statistical categories year to year. This season for the Commodores, the 2015 National Pitcher of the Year not only was 14-2 in nineteen starts (three complete games), but he fanned 167 batters in 127 2/3 innings with an ERA of 1.83! Even in his pro debut, Fulmer was in control despite a one-out hit by picking off the base runner before inducing a flyout during his only frame of work. Tonight though, would be the greatest challenge of his life.


The opponent was Atlanta Braves' prospect Dustin Peterson and the Carolina Mudcats, yet Fulmer did not care and came out of the gate pumping strikes leading to a strikeout of Connor Lien to begin the game. Later with two outs, the SEC Pitcher of the Year Award winner sat down Atlanta's sixteenth prospect (Peterson) with a fly out to complete his first Single-A Advanced inning of work. 


The second brought more of the same for Carolina as the opposing pitcher struck out the first two batters to start. Uneventful inning, right? Wrong! Next, Fulmer permitted a walk to Joey Meneses for the first Mudcats' base runner of the game. In fact, the free pass almost came back to haunt him as Jose Briceno followed by smacking a ball to center for a double. Luckily for Fulmer, Meneses was held at third base, giving him one more chance to escape unscathed. Carolina's Johan Camargo stepped into the batter's box to face the 2015 Golden Spikes award finalist but he was unable to plate the first run as he grounded out. Two innings in the books!


Despite the BB&T Ballpark crowd yearning for more of the future White Sox ace, Dash manager Tim Esmay removed Fulmer after two scoreless innings (33 pitches). 


Currently, there has been no indication of when Carson Fulmer will toe the rubber again in addition to what Chicago's (AL) plan is moving forward with their top pick from the 2015 MLB Draft.