LAKELAND, Fla. — Four years ago, Detroit Tigers right-hander Michael Fulmer didn’t need to prove anything in spring training.
He just won the 2016 American League Rookie of the Year, shortly after the Tigers acquired him in July 2015 from the New York Mets in exchange for Yoenis Cespedes. It seemed Fulmer was on the fast track to ace status, pumping 96 mph fastballs. He toyed with hitters, teasing them with his wipeout slider and trustworthy changeup.
“This year, I kind of toned it down a little bit,” Fulmer said during camp in 2017, back when he was locked in for a spot at the top of the rotation. “I’m going to help use spring training as a part of my buildup to the season.”
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So much has changed, hasn’t it?
Since then — following an All-Star Game appearance, right knee surgery, Tommy John surgery and one missed season — and Fulmer is a different pitcher. His body doesn’t allow him to reach back and crack the upper 90s, meaning he must learn a new way of pitching.
“I know it’s been lackluster,” Fulmer, 28, said Tuesday, after allowing three runs in a 7-4 loss to the New York Yankees on four hits and three walks. “And I’m not just saying this, but I do feel like I’m getting closer and closer. I’m trying to do different things every start to see what sticks and what doesn’t.
“Let’s be honest, I’m a different pitcher than I was a few years ago. There’s no denying that. I’m trying to learn on the fly like I was last year. Body is feeling good.”
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Last season, Fulmer was limited to three innings per start. He made all 10 of his scheduled starts — his only goal for the season — but had an 8.78 ERA, 2.060 WHIP, 12 walks and 20 strikeouts. Still, the Tigers tendered him a $3.1 million contract, avoiding an arbitration hearing.
Essentially, 2020 served as a year-long rehabilitation without the minor leagues.
“I don’t want to put limitations on him,” Tigers manager AJ Hinch said Feb. 18. “He feels like he’s got something to prove. He’s one of the few former All-Stars we have on this team. He wants to get back to performing at an elite level.”
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Fulmer has a 15.00 ERA through three outings and six innings this spring. He has punched out three batters and granted five walks.
On Thursday against the Toronto Blue Jays, he tried to throw high 93 mph fastballs but left them hanging down the middle of the strike zone. The result: home runs from George Springer, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Alejandro Kirk.
“Every time I threw (the fastball up), it was more middle-middle,” Fulmer said. “Those guys didn’t miss.”
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For his next start, Fulmer got creative.
Against the Yankees on Tuesday, the right-hander altered his pitch mix: 17 changeups, 14 sliders, 12 four-seam fastballs, 11 sinkers and nine curveballs. His fastball averaged 92.3 mph. Facing the Blue Jays, he only used eight changeups and three curveballs.
“Instead of trying to put up in the zone and leaving balls middle, I felt like I commanded the ball better,” Fulmer said. “I felt like my misses were a little better, kept guys off balance. … I’m trying different sequences. I thought the execution was a lot better. I need to be better with the results, but it was encouraging to me.”
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Still, Hinch called Fulmer “erratic” as his outing continued. He departed from the third inning with the bases loaded and no outs, leaving left-hander Derek Holland to clean up his mess. Before he exited, Fulmer walked Gio Urshela and plunked Derek Dietrich — both with the bases loaded.
Fulmer left the game frustrated.
So frustrated that he went to the weight room to blow off some steam.
“I can turn to execution almost 98-99% of the time when you talk about pitching, whether you’re just missing or whether you’re all over the place, it puts you in some bad leverage situations,” Hinch said. “Ultimately, it wasn’t a great day for him.”
Making the roster
Remember Fulmer’s confidence from spring training in 2017? He knew he was a shoo-in to make the starting rotation. This time, he is on the bubble.
“Honestly, I feel like I’m competing for a job,” Fulmer said.
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The Tigers have seven pitchers in the mix for what will eventually be a six-man rotation: Fulmer, Matthew Boyd, Spencer Turnbull, Jose Urena, Tarik Skubal, Casey Mize and Julio Teheran. Expect the Tigers to start with a five-man rotation — keeping one starter in the bullpen — before shifting to six crew a few weeks into the campaign.
Boyd, Turnbull and Urena are rotation locks, with Skubal on the cusp of joining them. And despite Mize’s command struggles, he would greatly benefit from being in the clubhouse and soaking up knowledge from pitching coach Chris Fetter.
That leaves Teheran and Fulmer to compete for what seems to be one spot.
“We’ve got so much depth in the starting pitching department,” Fulmer said. “I want to be able to earn a spot. Nothing is given in this organization. Competitive competition is good for this team, and we’ve got a staff and can definitely do it.”
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Also, players with at least five years of major league service can’t be optioned to the minor leagues without their consent. Later this season, Fulmer will reach five years of service, meaning he could refuse the option and take his release.
At this point, it remains unlikely the Tigers will demote him.
But Fulmer isn’t making the decision easy.
“It’s been three starts,” Fulmer said. “I feel like each time out has been trying something new. I got a few more starts here in spring. Hopefully, I’ll get everything together.”
Evan Petzold is a sports reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold.