Former Detroit Tigers right-hander Michael Fulmer is officially back in the majors after a 19-month absence.
The Boston Red Sox selected Fulmer’s contract from Triple-A Pawtucket on Sunday, bringing the 32-year-old back to the big leagues for the first time since the end of the 2023 season, when he last pitched for the Chicago Cubs.
Nearly a decade has passed since Fulmer first arrived in Detroit as part of the trade that sent outfielder Yoenis Cespedes to the New York Mets. The Tigers also received pitcher Luis Cessa in that deal, which helped shape their rotation for years to come.
Michael Fulmer burst onto the scene in 2016, earning American League Rookie of the Year honors during the Tigers’ last true playoff push until their resurgence in 2023. Though he never quite reached those same heights again, Fulmer remained a dependable presence in the rotation through 2017 and 2018—until injuries began to take their toll.
After undergoing Tommy John surgery and missing the entire 2019 season, Fulmer had a limited return in 2020. But in 2021, he successfully reinvented himself as a reliever, a move that extended his MLB career.
In 2022, Fulmer posted a solid 3.20 ERA over 39 1/3 innings for Detroit before being traded at the deadline to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for pitching prospect Sawyer Gipson-Long.
Michael Fulmer signed a one-year, $4 million deal with the Cubs ahead of the 2023 season, during which he pitched 57 innings out of the bullpen before undergoing a second Tommy John surgery following the season.
In February, Fulmer joined the Red Sox on a two-year minor league deal—structured to cover his rehab in 2024 and set the stage for a return to the majors in 2025. This spring, he was stretched out as a starter and made two starts with Triple-A Pawtucket. His role with the Red Sox remains uncertain, but he could serve as a long reliever or a bulk-innings pitcher following an opener.
Beyond the mound, Fulmer has turned some of his attention to the business side of the game. Once known for dabbling in plumbing during his downtime, he’s now an investor in PitchingWRX, a training facility in Oklahoma founded by Alex Marney. This past offseason, he trained there alongside Tigers top prospect Jackson Jobe.
