Michael Kopech

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Michael Kopech
Mike Kopech.png
Kopech in 2018
Chicago White Sox – No. 34
Pitcher
Born: (1996-04-30) April 30, 1996 (age 25)
Longview, Texas
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 21, 2018, for the Chicago White Sox
MLB statistics
(through September 15, 2021)
Win–loss record5–4
Earned run average4.05
Strikeouts102
Teams
  • Chicago White Sox (2018, 2021–present)

Michael Talbert Kopech (born April 30, 1996) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2018. Kopech bats and throws right-handed.

Amateur career[]

Kopech attended Mount Pleasant High School in Mount Pleasant, Texas.[1] He committed to attend the University of Arizona.[2] Kopech posted a 3–0 win–loss record and a 0.44 earned run average (ERA) in 11 games for Mount Pleasant, striking out 129 batters and giving up just 18 walks in 64 innings pitched, while earning 2014 Perfect Game First-Team All-American honors.[1]

Professional career[]

Boston Red Sox[]

Kopech was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the first round, with the 33rd overall selection, of the 2014 Major League Baseball draft. He received a $1.6 million signing bonus from Boston.[1] Kopech started his professional career with the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Red Sox in their 2014 season.[3] He posted a 0–1 record and a 4.61 ERA in eight starts, which included 16 strikeouts and nine walks in 13+1⁄3 innings pitched.[citation needed]

In 2015, Kopech pitched for the Greenville Drive of the Class A South Atlantic League (SAL), where he was 4–5 with a 2.63 ERA in 15 games. He struck out 70 batters and walked 27, in 65 innings, while earning a selection to the SAL All-Star Game. On July 16, he was suspended without pay for 50 games after testing positive for Oxilofrine, which is a banned substance under the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.[4] In the 2016 spring training, Kopech broke his right hand during an altercation involving a roommate. He returned to action in the season-opener for the Lowell Spinners of the Class A-Short Season New York-Penn League,[5] and was promoted to the Salem Red Sox of the Class A-Advanced Carolina League.[citation needed] In his first five starts at Salem, Kopech yielded only three earned runs in 29 innings with at least seven strikeouts in every game. In total, Kopech made 11 starts, going 4–1 with a 2.25 ERA across 52 innings. During that stretch, he struck out 82 hitters, the most for a pitcher in MiLB for the month of August.[6] He posted a 2.08 ERA and gave only 29 walks, striking out double-digit batters in four of his last six starts, including a career-high 11 twice. After his solid pitching effort, Kopech was named the Carolina League Player of the Month for August.[6] The award came along with his selection as the league's Pitcher of the Week for August 22–28.[1] He carried a 0.93 ERA into his final start of the season before a tough outing against the Winston-Salem Dash on August 31. Overall, he collected 86 strikeouts in 56+1⁄3 innings during the two stints (13.7 SO/9, 38% of batters faced),[7] along with a 4–1 record and a 2.08 ERA.[8]

According to Baseball America, Kopech threw one of the fastest pitches in professional baseball history against the Wilmington Blue Rocks on July 13, 2016. Kopech sat at 98 mph in the game, and touched 100 mph and beyond on a regular basis, until a 105 mph pitch was double checked by different radar guns in the Salem ballpark.[9] In an offseason workout on January 17, 2017, throwing from flat ground with run-up, Kopech threw a pitch that was unofficially clocked at 110 mph with a 3 oz ball.[10]

Chicago White Sox[]

On December 6, 2016, the Red Sox traded Kopech, Yoan Moncada, Luis Alexander Basabe, and Victor Diaz to the Chicago White Sox for Chris Sale.[11] In 2017, Kopech was named the starter for the North Division in the Southern League All-Star Game after he went 4–3 with a 2.93 ERA over 58 1/3 innings and a league best 80 strikeouts in his first 11 starts for the Double-A Birmingham Barons.[12] He was later named to the U.S. team of the 2017 All-Star Futures Game, striking out White Sox teammate Yoan Moncada of the World team. On August 18, 2017, the White Sox promoted Kopech to the Triple-A Charlotte Knights after he posted a 2.87 ERA over 119+1⁄3 innings in 22 starts with 155 strikeouts. Over his final five starts in Birmingham, Kopech allowed two earned runs and accumulated 49 strikeouts.[13]

The White Sox promoted Kopech to the major leagues on August 21, and he made his debut that day. His outing lasted only two innings because of rain. He struck out four batters and did not allow any runs. On his second pitch of the game he gave up his first hit, a single, to Joe Mauer.[14] At the time of his debut, he was considered the 13th best prospect in all of MLB.[15] Kopech underwent Tommy John surgery on September 18, putting him out for the rest of the 2018 season plus all of 2019 as well.[16] On July 10, 2020, Kopech announced he would be sitting out the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[17]

Kopech began the 2021 season as a member of the White Sox' pitching staff.[18] On April 2, Kopech made his 2021 debut against the Los Angeles Angels coming out of the bullpen going 2 innings striking out 3 and walking 1 and got the win. He made his first start in Game 2 of a doubleheader against the Boston Red Sox going 3 innings, only giving up 1 run and striking out 4 batters. On May 26, Kopech threw a pitch and then slipped and fell off the mound and was limping into the dugout. He was placed on the 10-Day IL with a strained left hamstring on May 31. Kopech was activated off the IL on June 30.

Personal life[]

In 2019, Kopech announced his engagement to Canadian actress Vanessa Morgan.[19] Kopech and Morgan were married on January 4, 2020.[20] In June 2020, Kopech filed for divorce.[21] On July 24, 2020, Morgan announced that she was pregnant with a boy due in January 2021.[22] On January 29, 2021, Kopech and Morgan welcomed a son.[23]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Sox-Prospects.com – Michael Kopech page".
  2. ^ Woodard, Justin. "Mount Pleasant's Michael Kopech drafted by Red Sox". Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  3. ^ "Boston Red Sox prospects".
  4. ^ Red Sox 2014 first-round pick RHP Michael Kopech suspended 50 games. WEEI.com. Retrieved on July 16, 2015.
  5. ^ Michael Kopech, a top Boston Red Sox pitching prospect, strong in season debut. MassLive.com. Retrieved on June 18, 2016.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b Kopech Named Carolina League Player of the Month. MiLB.com. Retrieved on September 13, 2016.
  7. ^ Michael Kopech – MiLB pitching statistics. Baseball Reference. Retrieved on September 13, 2016.
  8. ^ "Michael Kopech Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  9. ^ Cooper, J.J. (July 14, 2016). "Kopech hits 105 mph against Wilmington". Baseball America. Archived from the original on July 17, 2016. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  10. ^ Clair, Michael (January 17, 2017). "Michael Kopech hit 110 mph during his first max-velocity workout of the year". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  11. ^ Merkin, Scott (December 6, 2016). "White Sox get Moncada, 3 others for Sale". MLB.com. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
  12. ^ Van Schouwen, Daryl (June 8, 2017). "White Sox prospect Kopech to start Southern League All-Star Game". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved June 24, 2017.
  13. ^ Kane, Colleen (August 18, 2017). "Lucas Giolito to make White Sox debut Monday; Michael Kopech promoted to Triple-A". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
  14. ^ Merkin, Scott (August 21, 2018). "Sox lose but Kopech shines in rain-shortened debut". mlb.com. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
  15. ^ "Pitching prospect Michael Kopech to make White Sox debut Tuesday". ESPN.com. August 19, 2018. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  16. ^ "White Sox phenom Michael Kopech likely to have Tommy John surgery". ESPN.com. September 7, 2018. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  17. ^ https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/white-sox/ct-chicago-white-sox-michael-kopech-20200710-m7u5wzxjwnbb7gfhkn7nk5zebe-story.html
  18. ^ "Michael Kopech 2021 Pitching Game Logs". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  19. ^ "Brielle Biermann's Ex Michael Kopech Engaged to Riverdale's Vanessa Morgan: 'I Love You Intensely'". People. July 3, 2019.
  20. ^ "Riverdale Actress Vanessa Morgan Weds MLB Star Michael Kopech". People. January 4, 2020.
  21. ^ https://people.com/tv/michael-kopech-files-for-divorce-from-vanessa-morgan/
  22. ^ "Publication Instagram de Vanessa Morgan : " Was debating keeping this part of my life hidden but I knew people would see pictures eventually with my belly & I wanted you guys to hear… "". Instagram. July 24, 2020.
  23. ^ Swartz, Tracy (February 4, 2021). "'Riverdale' actress Vanessa Morgan shares name of baby boy she welcomed with Chicago White Sox pitcher Michael Kopech". The Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 27, 2021.

External links[]

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