Scouting grades: Fastball: 80 | Slider: 65 | Curveball: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45 | Overall: 55
Kopech signed with the Red Sox for $1.5 million as the 33rd overall pick in the 2014 Draft and indirectly brought a World Series championship to Boston as one of two mega-prospects (along with Yoan Moncada) included in four-player package sent to the White Sox in the December 2016 Chris Sale trade. He blossomed into one of the game's top pitching prospects in his new organization and gave up just one run in his first three big league starts last August. He got hammered and had diminished velocity in his fourth, after which he learned that he needed elbow reconstruction that will sideline him throughout 2019.
Before he got hurt, Kopech showcased some of the nastiest stuff in the Minor Leagues and earned comparisons to Noah Syndergaard. Hitters have great difficulty catching up to his fastball, which parks at 95-99 mph and often reaches triple digits with late running action. They're also overmatched by his mid- to upper-80s slider with two-plane break, a true wipeout offering at its best.
Kopech also throws a sinking changeup that has its moments but can get too firm, and he has added a curveball to give him an offering with greater velocity separation from his fastball. He has battled his control for much of his pro career, especially when he rushes his delivery, though he seemed to turn a corner when he totaled four walks in his final seven Triple-A starts. Assuming he makes the typical recovery associated with Tommy John surgery, he should be able to get back on the path of becoming a frontline starter. Statcast - Pitching Season Pitches Batted Balls Barrels Barrel % Exit Velocity Launch Angle XBA XSLG WOBA XWOBA XWOBACON Hard Hit % K % BB % 2018 256 46 6 13.0 91.9 22.1 .319 .611 .427 .427 .522 47.8 22.1 2.9 ALL 256 46 6 13.0 91.9 22.1 .319 .611 .427 .427 .522 47.8 22.1 2.9 MLB 40553 6.3 87.5 11.2 .251 .412 .317 .318 .371 34.5 21.7 8.3 Transactions Team Date Transaction 10/31/2019 Chicago White Sox activated RHP Michael Kopech from the 60-day injured list. 03/11/2019 Chicago White Sox placed RHP Michael Kopech on the 60-day injured list. Tommy John surgery. 10/29/2018 Chicago White Sox activated RHP Michael Kopech from the 60-day injured list. 09/08/2018 Chicago White Sox placed RHP Michael Kopech on the 60-day disabled list. Ulnar collateral ligament sprain in right elbow. 08/21/2018 Chicago White Sox selected the contract of RHP Michael Kopech from Charlotte Knights. 01/22/2018 Chicago White Sox invited non-roster RHP Michael Kopech to spring training. 08/18/2017 RHP Michael Kopech assigned to Charlotte Knights from Birmingham Barons. 07/10/2017 Birmingham Barons activated RHP Michael Kopech from the temporarily inactive list. 07/07/2017 Birmingham Barons placed RHP Michael Kopech on the temporarily inactive list. 04/05/2017 RHP Michael Kopech assigned to Birmingham Barons from Winston-Salem Dash. 01/23/2017 Chicago White Sox invited non-roster RHP Michael Kopech to spring training. 12/06/2016 Chicago White Sox traded LHP Chris Sale to Boston Red Sox for CF Luis Alexander Basabe, RHP Michael Kopech, RHP Victor Diaz and 3B Yoan Moncada. 12/06/2016 RHP Michael Kopech assigned to Winston-Salem Dash. 07/07/2016 Salem Red Sox activated RHP Michael Kopech from the 7-day disabled list. 07/01/2016 Salem Red Sox placed RHP Michael Kopech on the 7-day disabled list. 06/23/2016 RHP Michael Kopech assigned to Salem Red Sox from Greenville Drive. 06/16/2016 Greenville Drive sent RHP Michael Kopech on a rehab assignment to Lowell Spinners. 04/07/2016 Greenville Drive placed RHP Michael Kopech on the 7-day disabled list. 09/23/2015 Greenville Drive activated RHP Michael Kopech from the restricted list. 07/16/2015 Greenville Drive placed RHP Michael Kopech on the restricted list. 04/07/2015 RHP Michael Kopech assigned to Greenville Drive from GCL Red Sox. 06/20/2014 RHP Michael Kopech assigned to GCL Red Sox. 06/17/2014 Boston Red Sox signed RHP Michael Kopech.
