March 28--GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The White Sox reassigned right-hander Carson Fulmer to minor-league camp after his Cactus League start Saturday, but he left with a new confidence that he has what it takes to pitch in the big leagues.
Fulmer, the No. 8 pick in the 2015 draft, finished his first spring training with a 4.85 ERA in 13 innings over five appearances. He walked eight and struck out 10.
"The biggest thing for me was being around these guys with all of this experience and knowing how to handle yourself during the game," Fulmer said. "I'm an emotional, high-octane guy when I'm out there, but how do you settle yourself down once the game gets spinning out of control a little bit? I feel like all of my outings I've been able to maintain the game, keep it close."
Among Fulmer's positive developments were adding a cutter -- a pitch he had never used before -- and trying out a split changeup.
"Spinning the baseball has been something I've been able to do most of my career," Fulmer said. "It's not easy, but I've felt good doing it. ... I'm feeling more and more comfortable each day that I throw (the cutter), and I feel like it's going to be a pitch that I can utilize pretty much every outing."
Manager Robin Ventura said sending Fulmer to the minors was important to help him build a better foundation for when he makes his major-league debut, but he spoke highly of the impression Fulmer left.
"Coming from a big school (Vanderbilt) and the notoriety, he's a very humble kid, very focused, mature, smart," Ventura said. "He's showing all of that and has some talent. He's an impressive guy to get."
Improving: Catcher Alex Avila said he felt better Sunday after leaving Saturday's game against the Reds with lower-back stiffness.
Avila said if he continues to improve, he believes he could play Monday.
"I knew it was not something that was going to keep me out," Avila said. "I go through it every spring, get through it and usually there are no issues after it."
Avila is 1-for-17 with seven walks and 12 strikeouts, but he said he feels fine at the plate and is seeing the ball well. He said it's a matter of getting in the rhythm of the game, and he doesn't put much stock in spring training numbers.
"I'd probably like it if I had two or three more hits -- my average would probably look better and you probably wouldn't be asking me," Avila said. "To be honest, results in spring training mean absolutely nothing. I get ready for the season, and that's the bottom line. Whatever I do during the season, there is zero correlation to spring training."
When addressing a knee injury from a year ago, Avila admitted he wasn't likely to talk much about injuries this year. Ventura, though, said Avila's production is likely to come down to health.
"Sometimes you look at (the spring results) and have question marks, but if he's healthy he's going to be fine," Ventura said.
