Angels Pitcher Has Dehydrated Elbow, Still Plans to Throw in 2024

Carson Fulmer took the mound for the Los Angeles Angels on August 25 against the Toronto Blue Jays and began to feel some discomfort in his elbow around the fourth inning. He threw without any problems.

But after a few days of playing in the bullpen, Fulmer couldn’t take it anymore and was placed on the 15-day injured list on August 30.

Fulmer underwent an MRI scan and told reporters Sunday that images of his right elbow showed only inflammation. He said his elbow was drained and that he plans to play again this season.

The former first-round pick finally found a home with the Angels after struggling to find consistency in the bullpen with the Chicago White Sox, Detroit Tigers, Baltimore Orioles, Cincinnati Reds and Los Angeles Dodgers. This season, he set career highs in games played (32) and innings pitched (80.1) as a swingman.

Fulmer, the eighth overall pick in the 2015 MLB Draft by the Chicago White Sox, was more than just a high draft pick—he was a college baseball icon. As Vanderbilt’s ace, he pitched 127.2 innings with an impressive 1.83 ERA while leading his team to the 2015 College World Series finals.

He seemed destined for the big leagues, with a fierce intensity that promised to make him stand out. Fulmer was on the verge of national stardom, or as close as a college pitcher could get.

Fast forward eight years, and he’s thankful the Angels called in late May 2023 to eat innings. He was brought back this season and has become a starter, regaining the confidence he had before the White Sox destroyed him.

“I love him, man. He’s everything they advertised him to be,” Angels pitching coach Barry Enright said of Fulmer earlier this season. “The kid always wants the ball. His mentality is probably number one. I don’t think he takes anything for granted. And that’s his story. You learn from the losses he’s been through.”

Fulmer went from retirement to a steady presence in an injury-plagued Angels rotation.

“I’ve played in the big leagues in the past. I’ve played in the big leagues with a lot of different teams,” he said. “But I’ve never been able to stick around for long periods of time. To do that, I have to take advantage of every opportunity that comes my way.

“I will always be available. I will always find a way to be ready. Adrenaline is a special drug.”