‘Rookie of the Year’ Fulmer fears the worst: ‘Major surgery ahead of free agency’

Michael Fulmer, 30, the American League Rookie of the Year seven years ago, is going under the knife after failing to develop as expected. He is expected to miss a year.

Fulmer underwent surgery on the medial collateral ligament in his right elbow on Nov. 19 (ET), according to the Chicago Tribune, a local Chicago media outlet.

This is not an elbow ligament repair (Tommy John surgery). Revision surgery on the medial collateral ligament. It appears to be related to the Tommy John surgery he had in 2019.

The news comes as a blow to Fulmer. Fulmer signed a one-year deal with the Cubs after becoming a free agent before this season.

So he’s a free agent again. However, Fulmer’s chances of getting a good deal are slim as he is expected to miss the entire 2024 season.

Fulmer is a right-handed pitcher who won the American League Rookie of the Year award in 2016 with the Detroit Tigers. At the time, he was called a future Cy Young Award winner. 메이저놀이터

However, after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2019, his performance declined due to a drop in velocity, and he has been a reliever since the 2021 season.

This season, he has pitched 57 innings in 58 games with a 3-5 record, two saves, 11 shutouts, and a 4.42 ERA. He struck out 48 batters.

Fulmer’s chances of returning to the starting rotation look pretty slim. Fulmer is averaging 94.3 mph on his four-seam fastball this season. That’s down more than a mile from his peak.

It will be interesting to see what kind of contract Fulmer can get after undergoing major surgery ahead of his free agency.