1

Detroit Tigers Clips

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Detroit Free Press

Detroit Tigers' Michael Fulmer named AL rookie of the year (Fenech) Tigers' Verlander and Fulmer forever linked by rookie award (Fenech) Detroit Tigers' JaCoby Jones eyeing CF spot: 'Thought about it a lot' (Fenech) Tigers’ pitching rotation in good hands with Fulmer, Norris, Boyd (Fenech)

The Detroit News

Fulmer thanks mentor Verlander after winning rookie award (McCosky)

MLive.com

Tigers' Michael Fulmer wins AL Rookie of Year (Woodbery)

Michael Fulmer got help from Justin Verlander in award-winning rookie year (Woodbery)

MLB.com

Fulmer rolls to Tigers' 5th AL ROY Award (Beck)

Turnbull turns year around with strong Fall League finish (Callis)

Associated Press

Tigers' Michael Fulmer named AL Rookie of the Year (Staff)

Oakland Press

Tigers’ Michael Fulmer wins AL Rookie of the Year award (Mowery)

USAToday.com

Tigers' Michael Fulmer near-unanimous AL rookie of the year winner (Ortiz)

New York Times

Michael Fulmer and Corey Seager Named Rookies of the Year (Kepner)

CBSSports.com

MLB Awards: Tigers' Michael Fulmer wins 2016 AL Rookie of the Year (Anderson)

2

CBSDetroit.com

Michael Fulmer Named A.L. Rookie Of The Year (Burchfield)

WDIV.com

Tigers pitcher Michael Fulmer named AL Rookie of the Year (Hutchinson)

Daily Transactions

3

Detroit Tigers' Michael Fulmer named AL rookie of the year

November 15, 2016

By Anthony Fenech/ Detroit Free Press

Michael Fulmer started the season in Triple-A Toledo. He ends it as the American League rookie of the year.

Fulmer tonight became the Detroit Tigers’ first rookie of the year in a decade, besting New York Yankees

catcher Gary Sanchez and Cleveland Indians outfielder Tyler Naquin, as voted by the Baseball Writers

Association of America.

He received 26 of 30 first-place votes and four second-place votes for a total of 142 points, to beat out Sanchez

(91 points) and Naquin (20 points). Fulmer was the only player voted on every ballot.

“I was ecstatic,” Fulmer said. “Talking to the guys like (teammate) Justin (Verlander) and all the veteran guys

are telling me how big of a deal this is and I’m really happy and I know how blessed I am to win this award.”

Fulmer, 23, posted a 3.06 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in 26 starts. Only Toronto’s Aaron Sanchez (3.00) and

teammate Justin Verlander (3.04) had better ERAs among AL starters.

“It’s still hard to wrap my head around a little bit,” he said last week. “It was a fun season.”

With the win, Fulmer becomes the fifth rookie of the year winner in franchise history, joining Harvey Kuenn in

1953, Mark Fidrych in 1976, Lou Whitaker in 1978 and Verlander in 2006. He was acquired in a trade with the

New York Mets for outfielder Yoenis Cespedes at the 2015 trade deadline.

In 159 innings this season, Fulmer struck out 132 batters. His year was highlighted by a five-start stretch from

May 27 to June 17 in which he compiled a 33 1/3-inning scoreless streak, second-longest by a rookie starter in

the past 45 years. He also threw a four-hit shutout of the Texas Rangers on Aug. 14.

“It really wasn’t on my mind,” he said. “We were in the middle of the playoff race, trying to get that Wild Card

spot and it came down to the last day so I didn’t think anything of it during the season. … I appreciate that my

rookie season was very memorable and full of ups and downs and I’m just glad where I’m at on this Tigers

team.”

After starting the season with the Mud Hens, the right-hander was called up to the big leagues in early May,

after Shane Greene hit the disabled list. He quickly became a dominant force at the front of the Tigers’ rotation,

equipped with a mid-90-m.p.h. fastball and wipeout slider. But it was the changeup that took his game to the

next level.

Prior to his May 21 start against the Tampa Bay Rays at Comerica Park, he was throwing changeups in a

bullpen session when something “clicked,” he said. (The development of that off-speed pitch had been the main

reason the team assigned him to the minor leagues.) Against the Rays, he allowed one run on four hits in seven

innings, striking out 11 with one walk.

And he never looked back.

Fulmer was lauded for his mound presence -- wise beyond his years -- and off-field work ethic. His big build

allowed him to pitch past the innings limit that the team had set for him coming into the season. He seems to be

on track for a 200-inning season in 2017.

“After tonight, and being blessed with the opportunity to win this award, I’m looking forward to next season,”

Fulmer said. “And we’re going to give it our all and I’m going to try to do anything I can to help the team and

get to the playoffs and ultimately win the World Series.”

Out of the Detroit BBWAA chapter, Free Press sports writer George Sipple voted Fulmer, Sanchez, Naquin,

and Associated Press writer Noah Trister voted Fulmer, Sanchez and Astros reliever Chris Devenski.

With the win, the link between Fulmer and Verlander has solidly been forged.

“I got kind of nervous talking to Verlander,” Fulmer said. “He’s been texting me and saying he’s hoping that

me and him have back-to-back a decade apart. But now I’m rooting for him to get the Cy Young.”

Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager was unanimous choice for National League rookie of the year. He

hit a team-high .308 with 26 home runs.

4

Tigers' Verlander and Fulmer forever linked by rookie award

November 15, 2016

By Anthony Fenech/ Detroit Free Press

Michael Fulmer doesn’t get nervous much.

But when the Tigers’ right-hander started talking to Justin Verlander in the days leading up to Monday night’s

American League Rookie of the Year Award announcement, this happened: “I started to get a little nervous

about it because Verlander kept talking to me about it,” Fulmer said. “He kept talking about me and him going

back-to-back on the award ten years apart.”

After winning the Baseball Writers Association of America vote with ease, Fulmer and Verlander are linked as

the team’s last two Rookie of the Year winners. Verlander won the award in 2006.

This season, Fulmer said, “He basically brought me back to his rookie year and told me everything he wished

he would have done. … He was an open book. I had a ton of questions and he answered every single one of

them.”

The knowledge Verlander passed along to Fulmer was evident in his own numbers.

After a renaissance season during which he led the major leagues in Wins Above Replacement, and the AL in a

number of categories, the veteran ace is a finalist for his second AL Cy Young Award.

With a win, Verlander and Fulmer would become the second pair of pitching teammates to win the AL Cy

Young and Rookie of the Year in the same season.

Bartolo Colon and Huston Street won with the Angels in 2005.

In the NL, Bruce Sutter and Rick Sutcliff won in 1979 with the Cubs and Randy Jones and Butch Metzger won

in 1976 with the Padres. Fernando Valenzuela won both awards with the Dodgers in 1981.

Both Fulmer and Verlander garnered 26 of 30 first-place votes in their Rookie of the Year wins.

5

Detroit Tigers' JaCoby Jones eyeing CF spot: 'Thought about it a lot' November 15, 2016

By Anthony Fenech/ Detroit Free Press

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- JaCoby Jones has thought about it.

About the off-season. About spring training. About starting in centerfield for the Detroit Tigers on Opening Day

next season.

“I’ve thought about it a lot,” he said. “Ever since (Cameron) Maybin got traded. So it’s been stuck around in my

head, knowing that I’ll have a chance to be the Opening Day guy. That’s something a lot of guys dream about

doing.”

Jones’ dream is close to becoming a reality. After the Tigers traded Maybin to the Los Angeles Angels, Jones

profiles as the leading candidate in a competition with Tyler Collins and Anthony Gose.

But Jones has been careful not to consider it a probability. Playing in the Arizona Fall League this off-season,

he knows that there is a long way between November and April.

“I just know that we have an open outfield spot,” he said. “It’s going to be fun, and I know I have a good chance

if I can just play my game. The Tigers want me to do whatever I can to help the team win. It should be a fun

spring and challenging to compete for the centerfield spot.”

Jones has looked the part in Arizona, both in his numbers and in the number on the back of his jersey. For the

second consecutive AFL season, Jones is wearing No. 4 -- Maybin's number -- with the Salt River Rafters.

“I was like, ‘That’s the number I can use next year, since Maybin’s not going to be here,’” he said. “So I guess

I’ll have to call (clubhouse manager Jim Schmakel) to see if I can get No. 4.”

In 18 games this fall, Jones is hitting .348 with one home run and five stolen bases. Double-A Erie hitting coach

Phil Clark has seen the same kind of instincts in centerfield that onlookers saw in his baserunning this past

season.

Offensively, Jones likely isn’t ready for a full-time major league job. He had only 28 big-league at-bats last

season. But if he can play centerfield at Comerica Park and run the bases, he offers an intriguing option for the

Tigers, who are cutting costs and won’t have much money to splurge on a centerfielder.

His brief time in the major leagues, Jones said, was critical for his development.

“It’s a lot different knowing that you went out there and you experienced it, so you kind of know what it’s like,

in a way,” he said. “I kind of know how things go and how things work, so I think this off-season is big for me,

coming out here and doing pretty good so far."

Jones said that time was important because he was able to see the way to prepare. He lockered next to Maybin

and credited leftfielder Justin Upton and second baseman Ian Kinsler with showing him the ropes.

Preparation is the single biggest thing Clark, who is coaching with the Rafters, is trying to pound into Jones.

“He’s a talented ballplayer,” Clark said. “It’s just a matter of learning how to prepare himself every day so he

can stay consistent. That’s the biggest statement I want to make with him is consistency. Showing up and letting

his ability to play out. Part of that, the ability to be a good ballplayer at the major league level, is preparation.”

The preparation is two-fold: Mental preparation, such as scouting opposing pitchers and tendencies, and

physical preparation, the tedious work that can get overlooked by a young player.

In 2016, Jones started at Erie before quickly getting promoted to Triple-A Toledo. The 24-year-old hit .257 with

seven home runs and 13 stolen bases in the minors. He finished with the Tigers, making an early impact but

getting limited playing time down the stretch.

He has worked on being more balanced in the batter’s box this fall.

“Simplifying my approach and making more contact,” he said. “Trying to get on base as much as possible and

use my speed.”

On the bases, “I just like to cause havoc,” he said. “I like to put pressure on the defense.”

In short, he is a younger, less experienced and less polished option than Maybin. Jones counts the former Tiger

as his biggest influence in the clubhouse last season.

6

“He’s pretty much like a big brother to me,” Jones said. “We had a lot of conversations, and he showed me the

way. So I just followed him.”

And he hopes to follow him into centerfield next season.

7

Tigers’ pitching rotation in good hands with Fulmer, Norris, Boyd

November 15, 2016

By Anthony Fenech/ Detroit Free Press

Michael Fulmer will get the headlines.

On Monday night, the Detroit Tigers right-hander was named the American League Rookie of the Year Award

winner, besting Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez and Indians outfielder Tyler Naquin in a landslide.

But Fulmer is only one of a handful of promising young pitchers the Tigers have, pitchers who will play an

important role as the team begins a transition this off-season into building with a new business philosophy.

Fulmer and left-handers Daniel Norris and Matt Boyd will comprise three-fifths of the rotation next season, and

their growth in 2016 was a major reason the team finished within a few games of a postseason spot.

“That’s very exciting,” general manager Al Avila said last week at the Major League Baseball general

managers meetings. “That’s one of the things that people should focus on, three exciting pitchers under

control.”

Fulmer’s numbers speak for themselves: After a remarkable rookie season, he profiles as a front-line starter. But

Norris and Boyd, all pitchers under team control for the foreseeable future, offer the Tigers a rare commodity of

young pitching.

Norris, 23, posted a 3.42 ERA in 13 starts, with 71 strikeouts in 681/3 innings. He did not allow more than three

earned runs in any start and matured over the final month and a half of the season under pitching coach Rich

Dubee.

Boyd, 25, doesn’t flash as much stuff as Norris but showed he could be a serviceable back end of the rotation

pitcher. In 20 games — 18 starts — he posted a 4.53 ERA and 1.29 WHIP, improving his walk and strikeout

rates from the season before.

Add in ace Justin Verlander and veteran Jordan Zimmermann — whom the team is counting on to bounce back

from an injury-riddled season — to the likely improvements that trio will make in the off-season, and the

rotation shapes up strong.

“If we still have Verlander, we’ll have a really good rotation,” Avila said. “And really, right now, I expect that,

unless something unforeseen happens. But the young guys that we have are very exciting moving forward.”

8

Fulmer thanks mentor Verlander after winning rookie award

November 15, 2016

By Chris McCosky/ The Detroit News

Detroit — There's something about the seventh year of a decade and a sensational rookie season by a Tigers

pitcher.

In 1976, the right-handed comet known as Mark Fidrych burst across the baseball landscape, winning the

American League Rookie of the Year Award.

Thirty years later, in 2006, another right-hander blazed his way to the Rookie of the Year Award — Justin

Verlander.

And now, 10 years after that, a third Tigers right-hander has put his name on the trophy.

On Monday, the Baseball Writers Association of America announced that Michael Fulmer beat out Yankees

catcher Gary Sanchez and Indians outfielder Tyler Naquin in the voting for American League Rookie of the

year.

“I started to get a little nervous about it because Verlander kept talking to me about it,” Fulmer said in a

teleconference Monday night. “He kept talking about me and him going back-to-back on the award ten years

apart.

“Now I’m rooting for him to get the Cy Young Award (Wednesday).”

Fulmer received 26 of the 30 first place votes and earned 142 points. Sanchez, who hit .299 with 20 home runs,

a .657 slugging percentage and a 1.032 OPS in 53 games, received the other four first-place votes and finished

with 91 points.

“I was ecstatic for the final result,” Fulmer said. “In talking to Justin and some of our other veteran players, they

were telling me how big a deal this is. I am really happy and blessed to receive this award.

“But then again, I knew Gary and Tyler had outstanding years and I congratulate both of them. I am looking

forward to playing against them for a long, long time in my career.”

Fulmer thanked manager Brad Ausmus and pitching coach Rich Dubee, as well as the Tigers defense and

especially catchers James McCann and Jarrod Saltalamacchia. He also thanked Toledo pitching coach Jeff Pico,

Toledo manager Lloyd McClendon and veteran Mud Hens right-hander Thad Weber.

“I can’t thank them enough for all they’ve done,” he said.

He also praised Verlander for his mentorship throughout the season.

“He was awesome,” Fulmer said. “I remember back in spring training I was kind of nervous to go up to him

because I had been watching him since his rookie year in 2006. He was one of my favorite pitchers in the game.

“But he basically brought me back to his rookie year and he told me everything he wished he would have

done.”

Verlander showed Fulmer his shoulder workout routine. He should him his between starts routine. They

watched each other’s bullpen sessions. Verlander even helped him with scouting reports.

“It was all stuff he wished he would’ve done as a rookie, as opposed to what he did,” Fulmer said. “Having him

in the rotation helped me, Daniel Norris and Matt Boyd so much. He was an open book. I had a ton of questions

and he answered every single one of them.”

Fulmer, acquired from the Mets for Yoenis Cespedes in July of 2015, posted a 11-7 record in 26 starts (the

Tigers were 19-7 in those starts), with a 3.06 ERA. He was three innings shy of qualifying for the ERA title, but

among American League pitchers who threw at least 159 innings, he ranked third.

His .231 opponent’s batting average and 1.12 WHIP ranked seventh in the league.

His 132 strikeouts were the second most ever by a Tigers rookie.

His emergence, given the faltering seasons of Jordan Zimmermann, Mike Pelfrey and Anibal Sanchez, saved

the Tigers rotation and, in a large way, their season. Not bad for a guy who didn’t make the opening day roster.

Fulmer was among the early cuts in spring training, but he made just three starts at Toledo before the Tigers

brought him up. He made his debut on April 29. He beat the Twins that day, and won two of his first three

starts.

9

But, in his first three starts of May he gave up 12 runs in 14 1/3 innings. His ERA after four starts was 6.62. His

WHIP was just under 2.0 (1.966). He was possibly one or two shaky starts away from a return trip to Toledo.

At that point, Ausmus and Dubee convinced Fulmer that he couldn’t continue trying to overpower big league

hitters. He had to develop trust in his third pitch — the change-up.

“Dubee helped me,” he said. “He got me to loosen my grip, loosen my wrist and start throwing it at the bottom

of the strike zone.”

He unveiled the pitch in his next start, against Tampa, and threw a three-hit shutout over 7 2/3 innings. After

giving up 12 runs in those three starts in May, it would take another 12 starts before he would give up 12 more.

“That pitch is mostly for the future, giving him a third pitch,” McCann said in May. “He can’t survive on just

fastball and slider. Players will make an adjustment. This is a third dimension to his repertoire. It’s big-time.

“It is his X-factor.”

The change-up was the pitch that turned his season around. But the misconception is he developed the pitch on

the fly. Not true. The change-up had been in his tool box for several years, since 2012. But his fastball and

slider were so dominant through Double-A and Triple-A, he didn’t need it.

He didn’t have to learn the pitch. He had to learn that he needed to trust it; he needed to throw it.

“All the pieces kind of just fell together in a bullpen session and I started throwing it more and more,” he said.

“The more I threw it, the more confidence I got in it and I started to throw it in more pressure situations.”

According to Brooks Baseball, opponents hit .167 against Fulmer’s change-up. Thirty-seven percent of the time

opponents swung at the pitch, they missed it.

Pretty good.

What he did between May 21 and July 17 was historic. He pitched 33 1/3 straight scoreless innings. It was the

second longest rookie streak in history, just shy of Fernando Valenzuela’s record of 35 consecutive scoreless

innings in 1981.

Within that streak was four straight scoreless starts of at least six innings in which he allowed three or fewer

hits. In 100 years of baseball, since the mound was placed 60 feet, six inches from the plate, only he and the

Cubs Jake Arrieta had managed that, and Arrieta did it over two seasons.

In 10 starts from May 21 through July 17, Fulmer went 7-1 with a 0.83 ERA. No pitcher in his Major League

debut season had ever posted an ERA that low over 10 starts.

On June 1, he took a no-hitter into the seventh, losing it on a two-out hit. On Aug. 14, he threw a four-hit,

complete game shutout at Texas.

Ausmus said during the season that Fulmer reminded him of another right-hander, a star he caught back when

he played for the Astros.

“I don't want to put this kind of heat on Fulmer, because he's not there yet, but I kind of was thinking of Roy

Oswalt’s first year in the big leagues,” he said. “It's the mentality — he's not intimidated by who's stepping into

the batter's box. The environment doesn't seem to bother him. I just think it's his makeup. And he's got good

stuff.”

The Tigers were able to limit his innings to 159, without having to shut him down or remove him from the

rotation. Even with some rationing, and pushing starts back in August and September, Fulmer still seemed to

wear down.

In his last seven starts, he went 1-4 with a 5.54 ERA.

“The big thing is taking care of your body and your arm and developing a routine,” he said. “It’s about knowing

when you can try to get stronger and it’s knowing when you’ve got to pull the reins back a little. You have to

learn to read how your body feels, learn when you need to take it easy and when to go forward with your

routine.”

Fulmer isn’t quite sure yet where the trophy will go. He and his family have moved into a new home this

offseason.

“I want to see it first,” he said. “We have an office — though obviously I don’t do any desk work. But, with the

new home, it might be the centerpiece of the new office.”

10

Michael Fulmer got help from Justin Verlander in award-winning rookie year

November 15, 2016

By Evan Woodbery/ MLive.com

DETROIT -- After all the debate about whether a late-season surge from New York Yankees catcher Gary

Sanchez would be enough to win the American League Rookie of the Year, the results ended up being lopsided.

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Michael Fulmer won in a blowout.

"I was ecstatic," he said Monday night, after becoming the first Tiger to win the award since Justin Verlander

did 10 years ago.

Now Fulmer and the Tigers are turning their attention to what is likely to be a much closer race. Verlander is

vying for his second Cy Young Award, but faces stiff competition from Boston Red Sox pitcher Rick Porcello

(a former Tiger) and Corey Kluber of the Cleveland Indians. The winner will be announced Wednesday night.

"(Verlander) has been texting me and saying what it would mean to have us win a decade apart," Fulmer said.

"Now I'm rooting for him to get the Cy Young."

Fulmer thanked plenty of people on Monday night, from his coaches to his catchers, but reserved much of his

praise for Verlander.

The path that began 10 years ago with the Rookie of the Year Award has led Verlander to become one of the

most dominant pitchers of the last decade and a likely Hall-of-Famer. Now he's getting to help guide the

beginning of another promising career.

"I remember back in spring training, I was kind of nervous to come up to him," Fulmer said. "I watched him as

a kid. He was one of my favorite pitchers in the game."

Verlander's advice throughout 2016 was not simply to repeat what he did 10 years ago, but to avoid the pitfalls

he made along the way.

"He told me everything that he wished he had done, as opposed to what he did," Fulmer said. "He was an open

book this year. I had a ton of questions. He answered every single one of them."

Fulmer was acquired from the New York Mets in a trade-deadline deal last July for outfielder Yoenis Cespedes.

But he said he never felt suffocated by high expectations.

"After I threw that first pitch in Minnesota on April 29, everything went out the door," he said. "I trusted my

coaching staff and catchers and manager, and they didn't steer me wrong."

11

Tigers' Michael Fulmer wins AL Rookie of Year

November 15, 2016

By Evan Woodbery/ MLive.com

DETROIT -- Ten years after Justin Verlander finished a stellar first season by winning rookie honors, his

understudy Michael Fulmer has done the same.

Fulmer, 23, was named the American League's Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year by the Baseball Writers

Association of America on Monday.

Fulmer received 26 of 30 first-place votes. New York Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez and Cleveland Indians

outfielder Tyler Naquin were second and third, respectively.

A 23-year-old Oklahoma native, Fulmer went 11-7 with 3.06 ERA in 26 starts for the Tigers. He struck out 132

in 159 innings.

Fulmer received 26 of 30 first-place votes. He was

Fulmer joins four other Tigers who have been named Rookie of the Year: Verlander (2006), Lou Whitaker

(1978), Mark Fidrych (1976) and Harvey Kuenn (1953).

Fulmer won the Sporting News and MLBPA Player's Choice rookie awards earlier this month.

As expected, Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager was the unanimous choice for NL Rookie of the Year.

The Tigers acquired Fulmer last July from the New York Mets in exchange for outfielder Yoenis Cespedes.

A first-round pick of the Mets in 2011, Fulmer started the season in Triple-A Toledo but made an immediate

impact after being recalled.

Fulmer was 9-2 with a 2.11 ERA before the All-Star Break and although the wins and strikeouts fell off in the

second half, he remained within striking distance of the AL ERA title until the final weekend.

Fulmer fell three innings short of qualifying. He was scheduled to start the Tigers' 162th game of the season

against Cleveland, a make-up game that was not played because it did not affect the playoffs.

Tigers manager Brad Ausmus tried to balance Fulmer's workload throughout the latter half of the season. Rather

than shutting him down after he reached a predetermined innings limit, the Tigers tried to space out his starts

and give him extra rest when possible.

Several of Fulmer's teammates congratulated him on Twitter Monday night.

12

Fulmer rolls to Tigers' 5th AL ROY Award

November 15, 2016

By Jason Beck/ MLB.com

DETROIT -- Michael Fulmer turned to Justin Verlander and other Tigers veterans for advice to help him simply

survive his rookie season. When it became clear he could do more than that, he didn't need to ask them what it

would mean to win American League Rookie of the Year honors.

"Talking with Justin and all the veteran guys, I knew what a big deal this is," Fulmer said after winning the

award from the Baseball Writers' Association of America. "I'm really happy to win this award."

As he celebrated becoming the first Tiger to win Rookie of the Year since Verlander in 2006, he made it as

much about his teammates and coaches as himself, maybe more. It became a group honor for him.

"I guess I owe Justin Verlander dinner now," Fulmer joked on Twitter.

What was expected to be a close race ended up a relative runaway. Fulmer received 26 of 30 first-place votes

from members of the BBWAA. Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez, whose stretch-run tear over August and

September earned him serious consideration, topped the other four ballots, with Fulmer listed second. Indians

center fielder Tyler Naquin placed third.

Fulmer is the Tigers' fifth Rookie of the Year, joining Verlander, Lou Whitaker in 1978, Mark Fidrych in 1976

and Harvey Kuenn in 1953.

Esurance MLB Awards week concludes Friday on MLB Network and MLB.com at 8 p.m. ET with the MLB

Awards. Categories include Best Major Leaguer, Hitter, Pitcher, Rookie, Executive and Manager.

Fulmer, who nearly became the first rookie to win an ERA title since Fidrych 40 years ago, won out in what

became a debate over body of work. Like Sanchez, Fulmer didn't spend the full season in the big leagues.

However, he was closer, called up near the end of April. Moreover, he was called up at a time the Tigers

desperately needed help, with starter Shane Greene on the disabled list, Mike Pelfrey and Anibal Sanchez

struggling, and Verlander trying to find his form.

"I was surprised to get called up when I did at the end of April," Fulmer said. "Once I threw that first pitch in

Minnesota, everything was out the door."

Fulmer not only helped hold together Detroit's rotation over the next five months, he blossomed. In the process,

he adapted his game from a hard-throwing power repertoire to utilizing his fastball to set up his other pitches,

including a changeup that became a devastating pitch.

"It had some flashes here and there," Fulmer said, "but I never really trusted it until [catcher Jarrod

Saltalamacchia] and [pitching coach Rich] Dubee talked to me about it."

Fulmer delivered a 33-inning scoreless streak from late May into June, and he gave up one run or none in eight

consecutive starts. Detroit won seven of those outings, three of them when scoring four runs or fewer. The

Tigers won six one-run games with Fulmer on the mound.

Fulmer gave the Tigers a front-line starter to complement Verlander. He also benefited from being around

Verlander.

"I remember back in Spring Training, where I was kind of nervous to come up to him," Fulmer recalled. "He

was one of my favorite pitchers in the game. He basically brought me back to his rookie year in 2006 and told

me everything he wished he had done. He helped me with a shoulder program, a routine between starts, what he

wished he would've done as opposed to what he did.

"He was an open book this year. I had a ton of questions and he answered every single one of them."

Verlander, a finalist for the AL Cy Young Award to be announced on Wednesday, took as much joy in Fulmer's

win as he might his own.

Fulmer's 4.9 Wins Above Replacement, according to Baseball-Reference, ranked ninth among AL pitchers,

same as White Sox ace Chris Sale and just behind AL Cy Young finalist Rick Porcello. Sanchez's WAR,

calculated with a different formula for position players by Baseball-Reference, was 3.0.

Because Gary Sanchez wasn't called up until August, Fulmer didn't get to face him, though they met in the

Minor Leagues.

13

"Hopefully I get to face him a lot in the future," Fulmer said. "What he did this year was unbelievable. Just to be

nominated with him was a great honor."

14

Turnbull turns year around with strong Fall League finish

November 15, 2016

By Jim Callis/ MLB.com

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Spencer Turnbull's second full pro season didn't go nearly as well as his first. After

leading Tigers farmhands in ERA (3.01) and ranking fourth in wins (11) and strikeouts (106 in 116 2/3 innings)

in 2015, he made just 12 starts this summer while dealing with a shoulder impingement and a strained oblique.

One of the benefits of the Arizona Fall League is that it allows injured pitchers to make up for lost innings, and

Turnbull is hitting his stride with the Salt River Rafters as the season comes to a close. He didn't allow an

earned run for a second straight start on Monday afternoon, twirling four scoreless innings in a 9-1 victory over

the Scottsdale Scorpions.

"The Fall League has definitely been a good thing for me," said Turnbull, a right-hander drafted in the second

round out of Alabama in 2014. "This year has been really frustrating, definitely one of the biggest tests of my

life for sure. It's been a test of my character, a test of my faith."

While he has been pain-free in Arizona, Turnbull said he doesn't have all of his fastball velocity back, though he

was effective working at 92-94 mph against the Scorpions. Not only has the AFL given him some much-needed

development time, but it also has forced the Tigers' No. 12 prospect to do more than just try to throw his fastball

by hitters.

"I'm learning how to pitch with a little less velocity," Turnbull said. "I'm sinking it and cutting it more than I

used to rather than throwing heaters down the middle. There are a lot better hitters here than I saw in high Class

A. It seems like there are a bunch of Double-A type all-stars here. My style has been to get ahead with my

fastball, but you can't get away just throwing fastballs here."

Turnbull learned that lesson in the early going with the Rafters. He gave up two runs in three innings during his

first start, then lost his next three outings. He has given up just one unearned run in eight innings over his last

two starts and has one of the best groundout/airout ratios (4.0) in the league.

Turnbull's bigger-breaking slurve was his most effective strikeout pitch when he notched five whiffs against the

Peoria Javelinas last Tuesday but was flat against Scottsdale. So he morphed it into a harder slider that sat at 85-

87 mph, which he used to finish off each of his four whiffs against the Scorpions.

Salt River improved to 15-12-1 with the victory and remained one game ahead of the Mesa Solar Sox in the

East Division with three games remaining. The Rafters can clinch a berth in Saturday's championship game

with a win over the Solar Sox in Mesa on Tuesday. The loss dropped Scottsdale to 11-18, eliminating the

Scorpions from the playoff race and clinching the AFL's worst record.

Braves prospects powered Salt River's offense. Second baseman Travis Demeritte went 2-for-3 with a double,

triple, two walks, three runs scored and two more driven in. DH Dustin Peterson hit the game's lone home run, a

two-run shot off an 81-mph fastball from submariner Tyler Rogers (Giants) in the seventh. According to

Statcast™, Peterson's blast had a project distance of 410 feet and an exit velocity of 102 mph.

Former Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow recorded his first multihit game in the AFL in a losing cause,

delivering a pair of well-struck singles in his final two at-bats. After beginning the season by going 5-for-37

(.135), he has had five hits in his last 17 at-bats to improve his slash line to .185/.267/.222.

15

Tigers' Michael Fulmer named AL Rookie of the Year

November 15, 2016

By Associated Press Staff/ Associated Press

Corey Seager won the NL Rookie of the Year award unanimously.

Michael Fulmer took the AL honor -- and that vote wasn't all that close, either.

Seager and Fulmer were announced as the winners Monday night, when votes from the Baseball Writers'

Association of America were made public. Seager's victory was almost a foregone conclusion after he hit .308

with 26 home runs and 72 RBIs this year for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Fulmer, on the other hand, had to hold

off a late challenge from New York Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez, who hit 20 home runs in only 53 games.

Fulmer's season-long contributions for Detroit won out. The right-hander went 11-7 with a 3.06 ERA in 26

starts for the Tigers. He ended up receiving 26 of 30 first-place votes from the BBWAA, outdistancing Sanchez

by a total of 142 points to 91.

"I'm really happy and blessed to receive this award," Fulmer said on a conference call. "I knew that both Gary

and Tyler (Naquin) had outstanding years, and I hope to play against them for a long time."

Naquin, a Cleveland outfielder, finished third in the AL race.

Seager received the maximum 150 points in the NL vote. The Los Angeles shortstop finished well ahead of

Washington outfielder Trea Turner (42) and Dodgers pitcher Kenta Maeda (37).

Seager is the 17th Dodgers player to earn Rookie of the Year honors -- easily the most of any team -- but the

franchise hadn't had a winner since Todd Hollandsworth in 1996.

"It's obviously awesome to win it in general, but to bring it back to L.A. -- it hasn't been there for a while, and

they're known as an organization for winning all those Rookie of the Years with Tommy Lasorda and all them,"

Seager said. "So it's pretty cool to be able to be connected to all the guys that came before you."

The Dodgers, of course, had the first Rookie of the Year when Jackie Robinson won in 1947. They also had

four winners in a row from 1979-82 and five in a row from 1992-96.

Seager was the second player in a row to win NL Rookie of the Year unanimously. Kris Bryant of the Chicago

Cubs did it last year. Seager joins a list of Dodgers Rookie of the Year winners that includes luminaries like

Robinson, Fernando Valenzuela (1981) and Mike Piazza (1993).

A first-round draft pick by the Dodgers in 2012, Seager made his big league debut in 2015, hitting .337 in 27

games. He came into this season with high expectations and produced a phenomenal year. He is one of three

finalists for Thursday's NL Most Valuable Player announcement, joining Bryant and Washington's Daniel

Murphy.

Seager indicated that accolades like this were the furthest thing from his mind coming into the season.

"I didn't expect to win anything," he said. "It's a tough game, you don't take anything for granted, you don't

expect anything to be given to you."

Fulmer is the fifth Tigers player to win Rookie of the Year, joining Justin Verlander (2006), Lou Whitaker

(1978), Mark Fidrych (1976) and Harvey Kuenn (1953). Verlander is now a mentor to Fulmer in the Detroit

rotation.

"I remember back in spring training where I was kind of nervous to come up to him," Fulmer said. "I watched

him -- ever since he was a rookie, he was one of my favorite pitchers in the game."

Detroit acquired Fulmer in 2015 from the Mets in the trade that sent Yoenis Cespedes to New York. Fulmer

made his big league debut this April and lifted the Tigers with a sensational stretch leading up to the All-Star

break. From May 21 through July 6, he went 7-1 with a 0.63 ERA.

Sanchez made his own bid with his torrid hitting down the stretch, but that wasn't enough to close the gap on

Fulmer.

"What he did this year was unbelievable -- for him to hit 20 home runs in 53 games," Fulmer said. "It's really

cool to see guys like that, see young guys do that. Just to be nominated with him is a big honor."

16

Tigers’ Michael Fulmer wins AL Rookie of the Year award

November 15, 2016

By Matt Mowery/ Oakland Press

DETROIT >> The vast majority of the season was spent with the Detroit Tigers trying to find ways to limit

rookie Michael Fulmer’s innings and pitches.

When it came down to the very final weekend, though, they were hoping to just get one more crack with him on

the mound, in a makeup game after the scheduled end of the season, to try to get back to the playoffs.

They never got a chance to put him back out there one last time, falling 2.5 games short, and he fell just short of

qualifying for the American League ERA title as well.

But neither of those shortfalls cost him the prize as the AL’s best rookie, though, as he beat out New York’s

Gary Sanchez for the Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award, announced by the Baseball Writers

Association of America Monday night, becoming the Tigers’ fourth honoree in 40 years.

Justin Verlander (2006) was the Tigers’ last Rookie of the Year honoree, preceded by Lou Whitaker (1978) and

Mark Fidrych (1976). Harvey Kuenn won it in 1953.

“I mean, obviously, I was ecstatic for the final result. Talking to guys like Justin and all the veteran guys, they

were telling me how big of a deal this is, and I’m just really happy, and blessed to receive this award. Then

again, I knew that both Gary (Sanchez) and Tyler (Naquin) had outstanding years, and I hope to play against

them for a long time in my future career. I’m very excited to be where I’m at right now,” said Fulmer, who had

an eye on the seasons compiled by his closest competitors. “The only thing, after the season, and then the

finalists came out, then I got a little nervous talking to Verlander. He’s been texting me, saying that he hopes we

have back-to-back, 10 years apart. Now I’m rooting for him to get a Cy Young.”

Fulmer got 26 of 30 first-place votes, totaling 142 points, ahead of New York’s Sanchez (91 points) and

Cleveland’s Naquin (20 points).

As nice as it was to win the award — or would have been to the become the first rookie since Fidrych to win the

ERA title — Fulmer was always concentrated on the other goal: Getting the Tigers to the postseason.

“It really wasn’t in my mind. We were in the middle of a playoff race, and were trying to get in to that Wild

Card spot, all the way down to the last day. I didn’t really think anything of it throughout the season,” said

Fulmer, who really didn’t get drawn into discussions about it until the offseason. “Mostly my friends, guys that

I played high school baseball with, or minor league ball with, they were texting me, asking me what I thought

about it. And I said, ‘Well, both the guys that were finalists had a heck of a year. Ultimately, I won’t be

disappointed if it didn’t happen, but I’d be honored and enthused if it did.’ I wasn’t too worried about it. I just

appreciate the fact that my rookie season was a memorable one, full of ups and downs, and I’m just glad where

I’m at.”

Fulmer was dominant after first coming up to the Tigers as an injury replacement, going 9-2 with a 2.11 ERA

and a 1.096 WHIP before the All-Star break, making himself into a legitimate Cy Young candidate at the time.

He did plateau in the second half (2-5, 3.94 ERA, 1.142 WHIP), coming back to the pack, but he was still a vast

portion of the reason the Tigers were in the playoff chase until he end of the season, nonetheless.

His biggest competition for the award came from Sanchez, who had a dominant two-month stretch at the end,

hitting 20 home runs and driving in 42 runs in 53 games.

It was the length of each players’ contributions that made the difference.

“Well, Sanchez has been phenomenal since he got here, but he’s only been here a third of the season, maybe

less. Fulmer’s been here almost the entire year, and 6 1/3 innings from qualifying for the ERA title, and leading

(the race),” Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said before Fulmer’s last start. “For me, Fulmer’s the guy. There just

isn’t any other way around it.

“And all those guys have had good years. (Cleveland’s Tyler) Naquin’s had a good year. (Texas’ Nomar)

Mazara’s had a good year. I’m sure I’m forgetting somebody. (Max) Kepler in Minnesota.

“It’s hard to get around what he (Fulmer) has done.”

17

Verlander was even more adamant about Fulmer’s workload being the difference, compared to Sanchez’s. San

Francisco’s Willie McCovey (1959) was the only player to win a Rookie of the Year award playing as few as 52

games.

“You’re playing way less than half the season. You know … a third? Not even? I mean, how many guys have

you seen come up and be really hot when they first come up, and then go into prolific slumps,” Verlander said

in mid-September. “The league makes adjustments, and it hasn’t had time to adjustments to (Sanchez) yet. …

“I mean, it’s ridiculously impressive what (Sanchez) is doing this year. But if there’s someone that’s warranted,

that has a full season — or just about — under their belt, I think that weighs very heavily. … I don’t know,

you’re basically going to award somebody Rookie of the Year for a hot streak. Whereas, you don’t know, you

can’t project the entire season.”

Fulmer’s hot streak came earlier on.

His 0.83 ERA over the 10-start stretch from May 21 to July 17 (he went 7-1) was the lowest ERA posted by any

rookie since MLB started keeping track of the stat more than 100 years ago, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

The only other rookie with an ERA below 1.00 in a 10-start span was Cal Eldred (0.95) in 1992.

Fulmer allowed one or fewer runs in eight straight starts from May 21 to July 1, only one of six pitchers in

modern baseball history (since 1913) to have a streak that long. He joined Bob Gibson (11 starts, 1968), Josh

Johnson (8 starts, 2010), Derek Lowe (8 starts, 2009), Johan Santana (8 starts, 2004) and J.R. Richard (8 starts,

1979). Santana and Gibson won Cy Youngs in those seasons.

According to Elias, Fulmer and Jake Arrieta (2015-16) are the only two pitchers since the mound moved to 60-

feet-6 to record four consecutive starts of six or more shutout innings and three or fewer hits allowed.

Fulmer’s 33 1/3-inning scoreless streak in June was the longest by a Tigers pitcher in the modern era, according

to Elias, and the second-longest by a rookie since 1971, trailing only the 35 straight put up by Fernando

Valenzuela in 1981.

18

Tigers' Michael Fulmer near-unanimous AL rookie of the year winner

November 15, 2016

By Jorge Ortiz/ USAToday.com

Michael Fulmer’s season-long body of work outshined Gary Sanchez’s two-month brilliance.

The Detroit Tigers right-hander, who emerged as a major contributor in a faltering rotation, was named the

American League rookie of the year Monday. He received 26 of 30 first-place votes to beat out Sanchez, the

New York Yankees catcher who set records with his potent bat after his Aug. 3 callup.

Fulmer, 23, went 11-7 with a 3.06 ERA to combine forces with staff ace Justin Verlander in boosting a pitching

staff beset by injuries or poor performances from starters like Jordan Zimmermann, Anibal Sanchez and Mike

Pelfrey.

Fulmer, the key return in the swap that sent Yoenis Cespedes to the New York Mets at the trade deadline in

2015, was nearly untouchable for a 10-start spell from May 21 to July 17. In that stretch he went 7-1 with an

0.83 ERA, allowing just 34 hits in 65 1/3 innings as the Tigers won nine of those games.

Relying on a diverse repertoire that included a fastball, sinker, slider and changeup, Fulmer elicited groundballs

at a 49% rate and pitched at least six innings in 15 of his 26 starts. He ranked first among AL rookies in total

innings (159) and strikeouts (132) and fell just three innings short of qualifying for the ERA race, where he

placed third in the league.

Those impressive numbers allowed Fulmer to edge out Sanchez, who became the darling of New York with his

offensive exploits. The Dominican native was just the second player ever to hit 20 home runs in his first 51

career games, and he was twice named player of the week in his first month.

Sanchez’s home run exploits became a near-nightly story as the revitalized Yankees made a late push for the

playoffs after trading away key veterans like Andrew Miller, Aroldis Chapman and Carlos Beltran.

Sanchez, 23, hit nine homers in a 10-game span in August, finishing with 11 for the month. He cooled down in

September, belting “only’’ nine homers. His batting average for the month did drop to .222, but Sanchez wound

up with a healthy overall average of .299 and a monster on-base-plus-slugging percentage of 1.032.

His defensive work drew high marks as well, and the numbers supported the acclaim. Sanchez threw out 41% of

would-be base stealers and registered 6.7 Defensive Runs Saved despite starting only 36 of his 53 games behind

the plate.

The number of games played was one more than Hall of Famer Willie McCovey accumulated in 1959, when he

was named the NL’s top rookie unanimously on the strength of 13 homers, a .354 batting average and a .656

slugging percentage.

While Sanchez’s impact was immediate and undeniable, Fulmer’s was more extensive, spread out over most of

the season. He was called up April 29 and spent virtually the whole season with the Tigers, who were

eliminated from playoff contention the last weekend of the season.

Fulmer ranked second on the team in innings pitched and wins, good enough to get by Sanchez.

Ballots 1st places votes...2nd...3rd...Total

Michael Fulmer, Tigers ...26...4...0...142

Gary Sanchez, Yankees ...4...23...2...91

Tyler Naquin, Indians ...0...2...14...20

Chris Devenski, Astros ...0...1...4...7

Edwin Diaz, Mariners ...0...0...4...4

Nomar Mazara, Rangers ...0...0...4...4

Tim Anderson, White Sox ...0...0...2...2

19

Michael Fulmer and Corey Seager Named Rookies of the Year

November 15, 2016

By Tyler Kepner/ New York Times

Michael Fulmer was 11-7 with a 3.06 E.R.A. for the Tigers, compiling a 9-2 record by the time Yankees catcher

Gary Sanchez got his first hit of the season. Credit Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

In Michael Fulmer’s first full professional season, with the Mets’ organization in 2012, he learned a changeup

from the pitching coordinator Ron Romanick. Fulmer wrapped three fingers around the seams and started

making his way up the Mets’ farm system, but it was not the changeup carrying him.

“It kind of had some splashes here and there of being decent,” Fulmer said, “but I just never really trusted it.”

When the Mets traded Fulmer to the Detroit Tigers in July 2015, they got Yoenis Cespedes in return. Like

Cespedes, Fulmer thrived in his new surroundings. A coach, Rich Dubee, helped him loosen his changeup grip,

and his catchers urged him to throw it low in the strike zone and take his chances. The pitch elevated Fulmer to

the top of the American League rookie class this season.

As the Mets try to re-sign Cespedes as a free agent, the pitcher they traded away looks as if he will be a

centerpiece of the Tigers for years to come. Fulmer captured the A.L. Rookie of the Year Award on Monday,

routing Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez with 26 first-place votes to Sanchez’s four.

Corey Seager, a shortstop for the Los Angeles Dodgers, was the unanimous winner in the National League. He

hit .308 with 26 home runs and led all qualifying major league shortstops in on-base plus slugging percentage,

at .877.

Sanchez had an even better O.P.S. for the Yankees (1.032), but he played in only 53 games. His production in

that time (a .299 average with 20 home runs) helped the Yankees mount a playoff push even after they dealt

away veterans, but Fulmer’s body of work made him the easy winner.

In 26 starts for the Tigers, Fulmer was 11-7 with a 3.06 E.R.A. He was already 9-2 by the time Sanchez got his

first hit of the season, on Aug. 3.

Fulmer remembered Sanchez well from facing him in the minors.

“He looked intimidating in the box, big frame,” Fulmer said. “He’s got power, and he can hit the breaking ball.

It’s tough to pitch to guys like that, that stay on the ball and drive it out to right-center and put it out of the park.

You’ve got to be careful the way you pitch him.

“I hope I get to face him quite a bit more. What he did this year was unbelievable.”

Fulmer’s season was less flashy but no less impressive. Although he slumped a bit in the second half, Fulmer

nearly won the league’s E.R.A. title, finishing three innings shy of qualifying and posting a mark just six points

higher than that of the leader, Aaron Sanchez of Toronto. Fulmer helped the Tigers contend until the last day of

the season, and his changeup was nearly invincible: He threw it more than 400 times, and batters hit .167 off it

with no home runs.

There was a precedent for a player’s winning the award despite appearing in few games. In 1959, the San

Francisco Giants’ Willie McCovey was the unanimous N.L. winner after hitting .354 with 13 home runs in 52

games. But McCovey faced minimal competition that year, mainly from George Altman, a Chicago Cubs

outfielder who hit .245 with 12 home runs in 135 games. The St. Louis Cardinals’ Bob Gibson — a future Hall

of Famer, like McCovey — had a 3.33 E.R.A. as a rookie that season, but he made only nine starts.

In the N.L. this year, Seager’s selection was all but guaranteed; he is also one of three finalists, with the Cubs’

Kris Bryant and the Washington Nationals’ Daniel Murphy, for the league’s Most Valuable Player Award.

As rookie of the year, Seager takes a prize named for Jackie Robinson, who was the first to receive it, in 1947,

when he integrated the major leagues for the Brooklyn Dodgers. The Dodgers now claim 17 rookie of the year

winners, more than twice as many as any other franchise. Their last one had been Todd Hollandsworth in 1996,

the final year of Tommy Lasorda’s long career as manager.

“It’s awesome to bring it back to L.A.,” Seager said. “It’s known as an organization for winning all those

rookies of the year, with Tommy Lasorda and all them. It’s cool to be connected to all the guys that came before

you.”

20

Seager is the younger brother of Kyle Seager, a star third baseman for the Seattle Mariners. Another older

brother, Justin, plays in Seattle’s farm system.

“I’ve had conversations with Kyle on pretty much every aspect of the game,” Corey Seager said. “He’s just kind

of been that angel on your shoulder that you can go to.”

Seager was one of several rookie shortstops who made an impact in the N.L. Aledmys Diaz was an All-Star for

the Cardinals, hitting .300 with 17 homers, and Trevor Story ripped 27 homers in just 97 games for the

Colorado Rockies. The Atlanta Braves promoted their shortstop of the future, Dansby Swanson, who hit .302 in

38 games. And while Orlando Arcia hit just .219 in 55 games for the Milwaukee Brewers, he is critical to the

team’s long-term plan.

The runner-up to Seager, Trea Turner of the Nationals, is a former shortstop who found a home in center field.

In 73 games, Turner hit .342, with 13 home runs, 40 R.B.I. and 33 steals. The San Diego Padres had chosen

Turner in the first round of the 2014 draft but lost him in a blizzard of trades by their new general manager, A.

J. Preller, after that season.

Turner received 11 second-place votes and nine third-place votes, finishing just ahead of the Dodgers right-

hander Kenta Maeda, who got 11 votes for second and four for third. Maeda, who pitched for eight seasons in

Japan, went 16-11 and led the Dodgers in starts, innings and strikeouts.

21

MLB Awards: Tigers' Michael Fulmer wins 2016 AL Rookie of the Year

November 15, 2016

By R.J. Anderson/ CBSSports.com

Monday evening, Tigers right-handed starter Michael Fulmer was named the 2016 American League Rookie of

the Year, besting Indians outfielder Tyler Naquin and Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez.

Fulmer, who will turn 24 in March, was acquired from the Mets at the 2015 trade deadline as part of the Yoenis

Cespedes deal. He reached the majors in late April and quickly showed he belonged. In 26 starts, Fulmer tallied

159 innings, a 3.06 ERA (135 ERA+), and a 3.14 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He also notched a quality start in 58

percent of his tries, and finished with 4.9 WAR.

Naquin couldn't match Fulmer's season-long consistency, while Sanchez didn't accumulate enough playing

time.

Nevertheless, here's how the three finalists stacked up statistically:

Player PA/IP OPS+/ERA+ WAR

Fulmer 159 135 4.9

Naquin 365 126 0.9

Sanchez229 168 3.0

Fulmer becomes the fifth Tigers player to win the award, and the first since Justin Verlander in 2006. The other

Tigers pitcher to win the award? None other than Mark Fidrych. Nice company. Additionally, Fulmer is the first

pitcher to win the AL ROY since Jeremy Hellickson with the Rays in 2011. (Jacob deGrom was the last NL

pitcher to accomplish the feat, doing so in 2014.)

Fulmer led AL rookie starters (with more than 10 starts) in ERA, ERA+, and OPS+ against. He also led all AL

rookies in starts, innings pitched, wins, strikeouts and WAR (by 2.1 wins, nearly doubling the runner-up, Astros

starter Chris Devenski, who checked in at 2.8).

In case you were wondering, Fulmer received 26 of the 30 first-place votes, with the rest going to Sanchez -- a

polarizing candidate, given his limited playing time. Naquin's rough finish to the season and brutal defensive

metrics cost locked him in to third place, with Devenski and a slew of others splitting what remained of the

third-place votes. Here's a look at the full voting results:

22

Michael Fulmer Named A.L. Rookie Of The Year

November 15, 2016

By Will Burchfield/ CBSDetroit.com

Michael Fulmer has received the ultimate seal of approval on his first MLB season.

The Detroit Tigers’ 23-year-old starting pitcher was named the American League Rookie of the Year on

Monday, beating out Gary Sanchez of the New York Yankees and Tyler Naquin of the Cleveland Indians.

The award was voted on by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.

Fulmer went 11-7 with a 3.06 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP over 159 innings in 2016. He fell three innings shy of

qualifying for the ERA tile. Had he been eligible, he would have finished third behind Toronto’s Aaron Sanchez

(3.00) and Detroit’s Justin Verlander (3.04).

Called up from Triple-A Toledo in late April, Fulmer soon embarked on a historic run of dominance. From May

21 to June 17, he pitched 33.1 consecutive scoreless innings, a Tigers rookie record. It was the longest such

streak by any Tigers pitcher since 1961.

Fulmer hardly slowed down from there.

He was the Tigers’ best pitcher throughout much of the summer, going toe to toe with Justin Verlander at the

top of the starting rotation. By season’s end, he had racked up ten starts of at least seven innings pitched and no

more than three earned runs allowed.

Fulmer’s emergence helped keep the Tigers’ pitching staff afloat through a troublesome month of June and his

continued success enabled the team to stay in playoff contention through the final day of the season. Without

him, it’s hard to imagine where the Tigers may have ended up.

Fulmer’s main competitor for A.L. Rookie of the Year was Sanchez. The Yankees’ 23-year-old catcher was

called up in August and racked up 20 home runs and 42 RBI in 53 games. As impressive as this was, it was

generally agreed that Sanchez didn’t log enough playing time to claim an award based on a season’s worth of

results.

Fulmer is the first Tiger to win Rookie of the Year since Justin Verlander in 2006, and just the third pitcher to

win the award in franchise history. The other was Mark Fidrych in 1976.

Earlier this month, Fulmer was named the A.L.’s Outstanding Rookie by his peers.

The Cy Young Award winners will be announced on Wednesday. Verlander is one of three A.L. finalists.

23

Tigers pitcher Michael Fulmer named AL Rookie of the Year

November 15, 2016

By Derick Hutchinson/ WDIV.com

DETROIT - Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Michael Fulmer has been named the American League Rookie of the

Year.

In his first season with the Tigers, Fulmer started 26 games, allowing just 54 earned runs in 159 innings. He

struck out 132 batters and finished with an 11-7 record. Fulmer finished the season with a 4.9 WAR, a 1.12

WHIP and a 3.06 ERA.

Fulmer beat out Yankees slugger Gary Sanchez and Indians outfielder Tyler Naquin for the award.

24

LAST UPDATED: TUE, NOVEMBER 15, 2016, 01:40 EST

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2016

TEAM PLAYER TRANSACTION

New York Mets Neil Walker Accepted Qualifying Offer - Added to Roster

Philadelphia Phillies Jeremy Hellickson Accepted Qualifying Offer - Added to Roster

San Francisco Giants Orlando Calixte Signed to a Minor League Contract

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2016

TEAM PLAYER TRANSACTION

Atlanta Braves Jordan Walden Signed to a Minor League Contract

Seattle Mariners Danny Valencia Traded From from Athletics, Oakland (for RHP Paul Blackburn)

St. Louis Cardinals Chad Huffman Signed to a Minor League Contract

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2016

TEAM PLAYER TRANSACTION

Atlanta Braves Bartolo Colon Signed as Free Agent, ( 2017; Opt 2018)(one-year contract)

Los Angeles Angels Rafael Ortega Designated for Assignment

Los Angeles Angels Jesse Chavez Signed as Free Agent, ( 2017)(one-year contract)

Minnesota Twins Neil Ramírez Declared Free Agency

25

Minnesota Twins Alex Wimmers Declared Free Agency

Minnesota Twins Logan Darnell Declared Free Agency

Minnesota Twins Pat Dean Declared Free Agency

Minnesota Twins James Beresford Declared Free Agency

Seattle Mariners Steven Baron Cleared Waivers and Became a Free Agent

Texas Rangers Will Middlebrooks Signed to a Minor League Contract

Washington Nationals Chris Heisey Signed as Free Agent, ( 2017)(one-year contract)