White Sox select right-handed pitcher Carson Fulmer with their first pick of the 2015 MLB Draft

CHICAGO - The Chicago White Sox selected right-handed pitcher Carson Fulmer from Vanderbilt University with their first pick (eighth overall) in tonight's Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. 

Fulmer, a 21-year-old junior, entered the draft rated by Baseball America as the No. 2 right-handed pitching prospect and No. 6 overall. MLB.com rated Fulmer as the No. 3 overall prospect and top pitching prospect in their pre-draft rankings.

The 6-foot-0, 195-pound Fulmer was named Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Year and one of four finalists for the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award this season after going 13-2 with a 1.82 ERA (23 ER/114.0 IP), two shutouts, three complete games, 152 strikeouts and a .186 opponents average over 17 starts. He ranks among NCAA Division I leaders in wins (1st), strikeouts (2nd), starts (3rd), strikeouts per 9.0 IP (3rd, 12.00) and ERA (25th).

"We feel like for the second year in a row, we have been able to get the best college pitcher available in the draft," said White Sox scouting director Doug Laumann. "He is an impressive kid who has been able to go out on Friday nights and dominate for one of the better programs in the best conference in the country. He's won the College World Series and is now on his way back. There is always security when you draft a guy who has proven he can win and perform on the big stage whenever he is asked."

Fulmer helped lead the Commodores to their third College World Series berth after they defeated Illinois in the Super Regionals today with a 4-2 win in Game 2. He earned the win in Game 1 of the Super Regional series, his 13th of the season, after allowing just four hits with five strikeouts over 6.1 scoreless IP.

Fulmer became just the third Vanderbilt pitcher to be named SEC Pitcher of the Year, and was voted a 2015 All-American. He won the first SEC pitching Triple Crown since 2005 after leading the league in wins, ERA and strikeouts. He currently leads the SEC in ERA (1.82), IP (114.0), strikeouts (152) and wins (13). His 13 wins are tied for second and 152 strikeouts ranks third on the Commodores' single-season list. He also was named first team All-SEC and to the All-Defensive Team.

Fulmer is 23-3 with a 1.99 ERA (57 ER/258.0 IP), four complete games and 298 strikeouts during his three years at Vanderbilt. Prior to 2015, Fulmer was named a First Team All-American by Baseball America and Louisville Slugger. He also was named to the All-SEC Second-Team and All-Defensive team in 2014. He was named a freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball and All-SEC Freshman in 2013, and has been honored as an SEC Academic Honor Roll selection in 2013-14.

Fulmer, a native of Lakeland, Florida and graduate of All Saints Academy, joins pitcher Carlos Rodon (2014, third overall), infielder Tim Anderson (2013, 17th), outfielder Courtney Hawkins (2012, 13th) and left-handed pitcher Chris Sale (2010, 13th) as the White Sox most recent first-round selections. White Sox left-hander Chris Sale also is a native of Lakeland, Fla.

Fulmer was recommended by White Sox scout Phil Gulley.