Pirates reclaim RHP Carson Fulmer 16 days after losing him on waivers

It’s a shortened season in 2020, but tell that to Carson Fulmer. The right-handed pitcher has changed teams four times.

For the second time in less than a month, he was claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Fulmer on Monday was awarded to the Pirates off the roster of the Baltimore Orioles, for whom the 26-year-old had pitched 3 2/3 hitless innings since being claimed off waivers from the Pirates on Sept. 5.

“The last conversation I had with him was honestly when we designated him; I told him I hoped he didn’t get claimed because we like him,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said Monday. “Someone did claim him. Now we have a chance to get him back. I think there are a lot of positives we see in Carson Fulmer.”

Right-handed reliever Carson Fulmer is looking forward to a fresh start with the #Pirates, in hopes he can recapture the success that made him one of baseball’s most coveted pitching prospects. https://t.co/k7r1F2F4vJ

— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) August 30, 2020

The eighth overall pick of the 2015 draft, Fulmer was with the Chicago White Sox organization until being waived during the opening weekend of play of this abbreviated and delayed 2020 season. Fulmer (6-1, 200 pounds) made seven appearances over a month with the Detroit Tigers before he was waived again and claimed by the Pirates on Aug 24. Fulmer never made it into a game over 12 days as property of the Pirates before being designated for assignment and claimed by the Orioles.

“We have identified some things we think are going to make him better,” said Shelton, who also said Fulmer will not join the Pirates to pitch for them over the final week of the season.

In 44 major-league appearances (15 starts) since 2016, Fulmer is 6-9 with a 6.59 ERA, 1.65 WHIP and 83 strikeouts in 94 2/3 innings.

In other move Monday, the Pirates promoted outfielder Jared Oliva to the active roster from their alternate training site in Altoona. Oliva, who has no major-league experience, had 36 steals in 123 games with Double-A Altoona last season. The 24-year-old was a 2017 seventh-round pick of the Pirates out of the University of Arizona.

Outfielder Jason Martin was placed on the injured list because of a back strain, ending his season.

Also, reliever Yacksel Rios was transferred to the 45-day disabled list in order to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Fulmer. Rios hadn’t pitched since Aug. 8 because of shoulder inflammation.

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