White Sox sign first-round pick Carson Fulmer

CHICAGO - The Chicago White Sox have signed right-handed pitcher Carson Fulmer, their first-round pick (No. 8 overall) in the 2015 First-Year Player Draft, to a minor-league contract with a $3,470,600-million signing bonus.

Fulmer, 21, was named SEC Pitcher of the Year, First-Team All-America by Baseball America and National Pitcher of the Year by the College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015 after going 14-2 with a 1.83 ERA (26 ER/127.2 IP), three complete games, 167 strikeouts and a .180 (81-449) opponents average over 19 starts at Vanderbilt.

"We are pleased to get Carson signed and into the organization quickly to start his professional career," said Rick Hahn, White Sox senior vice president/general manager. "Carson has been among the elite college pitchers each of the last two seasons - pitching the Commodores to a championship in 2014 and a runner-up finish in 2015. He is a winner who has impressed us with his leadership and character both on and off the baseball diamond."

  The 6-foot, 195-pound Fulmer led all NCAA Division I pitchers last season in wins (1st) and ranked among the leaders in starts (T1st), strikeouts (2nd) and strikeouts per 9.0 IP (6th, 11.77). He became the fourth pitcher in SEC history and first since 2005 to lead the conference in wins, ERA and strikeouts, and his 167 strikeouts are the second-highest total in Vanderbilt history behind David Price's 194 in 2007.

Fulmer led the Commodores to the finals of the 2015 College World Series, where they lost to Virginia in their bid to repeat as national champions. He was the winning pitcher in Game 1, throwing 7.2 scoreless IP.

"I'm thrilled to start my professional career with the White Sox," said Fulmer. "It's exciting to join an organization with such a great track record of developing pitching. I cannot wait to get started."

Fulmer went 24-3 with a 1.99 ERA (60 ER/271.1 IP) and 313 strikeouts during his three seasons at Vanderbilt. He was named Second-Team All-SEC in 2014 and was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll in 2013-14.

Fulmer will make his first appearance at U.S. Cellular Field tonight when he throws out a ceremonial first pitch before the White Sox game vs. Baltimore, accompanied by White Sox Amateur City Elite (ACE) players. 

Fulmer will donate $10,000 to Chicago White Sox Charities that will be designated to support five players in the Sox ACE program. Fulmer's Vanderbilt teammate, Ronell Coleman, played in the ACE program as a youth.

"Signing a professional contract is a tremendous privilege and responsibility," Fulmer said. "I wanted to find a great cause that I could donate to as I start my relationship with the White Sox, and the ACE program was perfect. It's an honor to be able to use my success to provide five scholarships to young players who might someday follow in my same footsteps."