White Sox prospect Carson Fulmer grinned when he heard the opposing pitcher in his first Cactus League start of the spring Saturday would be Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw.
"I was hoping that," Fulmer said. "He’s a pitcher that you look up to, and for me, it’s going to be awesome. I hopefully can keep the scorecard or something."
The 23-year-old Fulmer will open the Sox’s spring season with his start at Camelback Ranch at 1:05 p.m. Arizona time (2:05 p.m. Central).
The Sox will start left-hander Jose Quintana at home Sunday against the Rockies, and top pitching prospect Lucas Giolito will make the start Monday against the Cubs at Sloan Park.
Fulmer said he is "trending up" after making mechanical changes at the end of the Triple-A season. That work corrected issues that led to a rocky stint as a reliever with the Sox last year, when he posted an 8.49 ERA in eight appearances.
He said he is "honored" to be given the challenge of opening up the Cactus League season against Kershaw. He pitched in a night game against the Dodgers last year in spring training.
"I feel like the coaching staff here stresses that in order to be a good player, you have to put yourself in situations that you are uncomfortable with," Fulmer said. "I'm not saying I’m uncomfortable with it, but it was definitely a unique situation where I can go out there and help us win. ... With the coaching staff putting us young guys in that situation, I think it’s going to benefit us."
Under contract: The Sox agreed to terms with 25 players so that everyone on their 40-man roster is under contract. Left-hander Carlos Rodon, who will receive $600,000, is the highest-paid of the group. The major-league minimum is $535,000 this year.
Caption Sox prospect Zack Burdi on attending Mark Buehrle's perfect gameWhite Sox pitching prospect Zack Burdi recalls attending Mark Buehrle's perfect game in July 2009: "Just being there and feeling that electric moment was pretty special." (Colleen Kane/Chicago Tribune)
White Sox pitching prospect Zack Burdi recalls attending Mark Buehrle's perfect game in July 2009: "Just being there and feeling that electric moment was pretty special." (Colleen Kane/Chicago Tribune)
Caption Sox prospect Zack Burdi on attending Mark Buehrle's perfect gameWhite Sox pitching prospect Zack Burdi recalls attending Mark Buehrle's perfect game in July 2009: "Just being there and feeling that electric moment was pretty special." (Colleen Kane/Chicago Tribune)
White Sox pitching prospect Zack Burdi recalls attending Mark Buehrle's perfect game in July 2009: "Just being there and feeling that electric moment was pretty special." (Colleen Kane/Chicago Tribune)
Caption Sox pitching coach Don Cooper on Mark Buehrle: 'He taught me a lot'White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper recalls his favorite memories of Mark Buehrle's career on Feb. 23, 2017, at spring training in Glendale, Ariz. The team will retire Buehrle's number on June 24. (Colleen Kane/Chicago Tribune)
White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper recalls his favorite memories of Mark Buehrle's career on Feb. 23, 2017, at spring training in Glendale, Ariz. The team will retire Buehrle's number on June 24. (Colleen Kane/Chicago Tribune)
Caption Todd Frazier on soreness in his left sideWhite Sox third baseman Todd Frazier discusses soreness he felt in his left side during spring training on Feb. 22, 2017, in Elexbet Glendale, Ariz. (Colleen Kane/Chicago Tribune)
White Sox third baseman Todd Frazier discusses soreness he felt in his left side during spring training on Feb. 22, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (Colleen Kane/Chicago Tribune)
Caption Sox outfielder Avisail Garcia on his offseason workoutsWhite Sox outfielder Avisail Garcia discusses his offseason workouts at spring training on Feb. 21, 2017, at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz. (Colleen Kane/Chicago Tribune)
White Sox outfielder Avisail Garcia discusses his offseason workouts at spring training on Feb. 21, 2017, at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz. (Colleen Kane/Chicago Tribune)
Caption Sox manager Rick Renteria on pitcher Zack Burdi's developmentWhite Sox manager Rick Renteria discusses pitcher Zack Burdi's development in spring training on Feb. 21, 2017, at Camelback Ranch. (Colleen Kane/Chicago Tribune)
White Sox manager Rick Renteria discusses pitcher Zack Burdi's development in spring training on Feb. 21, 2017, at Camelback Ranch. (Colleen Kane/Chicago Tribune)
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