Tigers prospect Fulmer named Eastern League top pitcher

Tigers prospect Michael Fulmer has been named Eastern League pitcher of the year.

The right-hander, who was acquired from the Mets in the Yoenis Cespedes deal, has combined for a record of 10-3 with 112 strikeouts and a 2.06 ERA in 20 starts between Double A Erie and Binghamton this season.

Fulmer, 22, made his season debut for the Mets' Double-A affiliate Binghamton on May 3 after receiving a promotion from Class-A St. Lucie. Fulmer went on to start 15 games for the B-Mets and posted a record of 6-2 with 83 strikeouts and a 1.88 ERA over 86 innings pitched.

After being assigned to Erie on July 31, Fulmer has a record of 4-1 with 29 strikeouts and a 2.06 ERA. He has not allowed an earned run in nine of his starts this season and he has given up three runs or less in 18 of his 20 starts.

Fulmer was impressive during stretch from July 22-Aug.9 in which he went four consecutive starts without allowing a run. He struck out 29 batters while yielding 16 hits and four walks in 23.2 innings in that span.

Fulmer, who is a native of Oklahoma City, Okla., currently leads all Eastern League starting pitchers in strikeouts per nine innings (8.87). He also ranks among the league leaders in ERA (2.08-second), batting average against (.227-fourth), WHIP (1.10-fifth), wins (10-tied fifth) and strikeouts (112-tied sixth).

In addition to winning this award the 6-foot-3, 200-pound hurler was also selected as the right-handed starting pitcher on the Eastern League All-Star Team and was the winner of the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week Award for the period of Aug. 3-9.

Fulmer, who is rated by MLB.com as the fourth best prospect in the Detroit organization, was originally selected by the New York Mets with the 44th overall pick in the first round of the 2011 draft out of Deer Creek High School in Edmond, Okla.