Michael Kopech

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Michael Kopech
Chicago White Sox – No. 34
Pitcher
Born: (1996-04-30) April 30, 1996 (age 27)
Longview, Texas, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 21, 2018, for the Chicago White Sox
MLB statistics
(through April 23, 2024)
Win–loss record15–27
Earned run average4.33
Strikeouts376
Teams

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] While in high school, he developed a baseball rivalry and eventual friendship with Patrick Mahomes[2] He committed to attend the University of Arizona.[3] 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.[4]

Professional career

Boston Red Sox

Kopech was selected by the

Gulf Coast League Red Sox in their 2014 season.[1] 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

batters faced),[8] along with a 4–1 record and a 2.08 ERA.[9]

According to

radar guns in the Salem ballpark.[10] 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 miles per hour (180 km/h) with a 3-ounce (85 g) ball.[11]

Chicago White Sox

On December 6, 2016, the Red Sox traded Kopech,

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.[14]

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

Tommy John surgery on September 18, putting him out for the rest of the 2018 season plus all of 2019 as well.[17] On July 10, 2020, Kopech announced he would be sitting out the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[18]

Kopech began the 2021 season as a member of the White Sox' pitching staff.

2021 ALDS against the Houston Astros, Kopech picked up his first career postseason win coming in the second inning for relief of White Sox starter Dylan Cease
. Kopech went 2+1⁄3 innings giving up four hits, three runs (including a home run), one walk, and struck out five batters leading the White Sox to a 12–6 victory.

In 2022, Kopech made his way to the starting role. During the season, Kopech was on and off the injured list. In a game against the Kansas City Royals, Kopech felt soreness in his left knee before the first pitch but tried to pitch anyway. He ended up leaving the game after facing four batters in the first inning and was placed on the IL with a left knee strain.[20] Kopech made two more starts before he was placed on the IL again on September 17 with right shoulder inflammation and was shut down for the season.[21]

Overall in 2022, Kopech made 25 starts posting a 5–9 record with a 3.54 ERA in 119+1⁄3 innings with 105 strikeouts and 57 walks.[22] He led the major leagues in highest walk percentage, at 11.5%.[23]

On January 13, 2023, Kopech agreed to a one-year, $2.05 million contract with the White Sox, avoiding salary arbitration.[24] In his first start of 2023, Kopech gave up seven earned runs and five home runs, with four of those home runs coming in the fifth inning. In 30 games (27 starts), he posted a 5–12 record and 5.43 ERA with 134 strikeouts in 129+1⁄3 innings pitched. On September 22, Kopech underwent season–ending surgery to remove a cyst from his right knee.[25]

Entering the 2024 season, the White Sox announced that Kopech would pitch primarily out of the bullpen.[26]

Personal life

In 2019, Kopech announced his engagement to Canadian actress Vanessa Morgan.[27] Kopech and Morgan married in January 2020,[28] but Kopech filed for divorce shortly thereafter in June 2020.[29] Morgan gave birth to their son in January 2021.[30] In May 2022, he took a brief paternity leave from the White Sox while he attended the birth of his second child, by his new girlfriend,[31] fitness instructor Morgan Eudy.[32] As of August 2023, Kopech and Eudy were engaged and expecting their second child together; Eudy also has a daughter from a previous relationship.[33]

References

  1. ^ a b "Michael Kopech | SoxProspects.com". www.soxprospects.com.
  2. ^ "Michael Kopech, Pat Mahomes were young rivals". MLB.com.
  3. ^ Woodard, Justin. "Mount Pleasant's Michael Kopech drafted by Red Sox". Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  4. ^ a b c "Sox-Prospects.com – Michael Kopech page".
  5. ^ Red Sox 2014 first-round pick RHP Michael Kopech suspended 50 games. WEEI.com. Retrieved on July 16, 2015.
  6. ^ Michael Kopech, a top Boston Red Sox pitching prospect, strong in season debut. MassLive.com. Retrieved on June 18, 2016.
  7. ^ a b Kopech Named Carolina League Player of the Month. MiLB.com. Retrieved on September 13, 2016.
  8. ^ Michael Kopech – MiLB pitching statistics. Baseball Reference. Retrieved on September 13, 2016.
  9. ^ "Michael Kopech Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ Merkin, Scott (December 6, 2016). "White Sox get Moncada, 3 others for Sale". MLB.com. Archived from the original on September 23, 2017. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
  13. ^ Van Schouwen, Daryl (June 8, 2017). "White Sox prospect Kopech to start Southern League All-Star Game". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved June 24, 2017.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ Merkin, Scott (August 21, 2018). "Sox lose but Kopech shines in rain-shortened debut". mlb.com. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
  16. ^ "Pitching prospect Michael Kopech to make White Sox debut Tuesday". ESPN.com. August 19, 2018. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  17. ^ "White Sox phenom Michael Kopech likely to have Tommy John surgery". ESPN.com. September 7, 2018. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  18. ^ "Chicago White Sox pitcher Michael Kopech opts out of the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season for 'personal reasons'". Chicago Tribune.
  19. ^ "Michael Kopech 2021 Pitching Game Logs". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  20. ^ "Michael Kopech injury: White Sox pitcher lands on injured list after exiting start in first inning". Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  21. ^ "White Sox Place Michael Kopech On 15-Day Injured List". Retrieved September 17, 2022.
  22. ^ "Michael Kopech Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More". Baseball-Reference.com.
  23. ^ "Splits Leaderboards | FanGraphs". www.fangraphs.com.
  24. ^ "2023 MLB Arbitration Tracker". MLBTradeRumors. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  25. ^ "White Sox's Michael Kopech: Season ends due to knee surgery". cbssports.com. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  26. ^ "White Sox' Michael Kopech reacts to bullpen demotion". nbcsportschicago.com. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
  27. ^ Merrett, Robyn (July 3, 2019). "Brielle Biermann's Ex Michael Kopech Engaged to Riverdale's Vanessa Morgan: 'I Love You Intensely'". People. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  28. ^ Mizoguchi, Karen (January 4, 2020). "Riverdale Actress Vanessa Morgan Weds MLB Star Michael Kopech". People. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
  29. ^ Swartz, Tracy (July 27, 2020). "White Sox pitcher Michael Kopech files for divorce from 'Riverdale' actress Vanessa Morgan". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on February 5, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  30. ^ Guglielmi, Jodi (February 8, 2021). "Vanessa Morgan Spends Time with Estranged Husband Michael Kopech After Welcoming Baby: 'Happy'". People. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  31. ^ Shapiro, Alex. "Michael Kopech returns from paternity leave". NBC Sports. Archived from the original on January 8, 2024. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  32. ^ Grebenyuk, Yana (August 24, 2023). "White Sox Pitcher Michael Kopech's Family Guide: Ex-Wife Vanessa Morgan, Fiancee Morgan Eudy and His Kids". Us Weekly. Archived from the original on August 31, 2023. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  33. ^ Grebenyuk, Yana (August 7, 2023). "Riverdale's Vanessa Morgan Offers Glimpse at New Boyfriend James Karnik Bonding With Son River". Us Weekly. Archived from the original on September 23, 2023. Retrieved January 7, 2024.

External links

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