How White Sox prospect Kopech is getting back up to speed, and how he altered his style
GLENDALE, Ariz. - The White Sox's full squad will be on the field for the first time Monday morning at Camelback Ranch, and that's when the depth chart really starts taking shape.
It will be particularly interesting to see how the starting rotation shakes out.
As it stands now, Lucas Giolito is the No. 1 starter, followed by newcomers Dallas Keuchel and Gio Gonzalez, and Dylan Cease and Reynaldo Lopez.
Put that down, but use a pencil.
Gonzalez is dealing with what he deems "very minor" shoulder soreness and should be ready when the regular season opens on March 26. Then again, you never know with injuries.
Lopez is well aware he has to earn a spot after posting a 5.38 ERA last season. Among qualified major-league starters, only the Red Sox's Rick Porcello (5.52) was worse.
How the White Sox's rotation starts is not at all likely how it'll end up.
Michael Kopech is healthy after having Tommy John surgery in September of 2018 and sitting out all last season.
"It's been a long time coming for me," Kopech said. "I spent the entire year last year down here on my lonesome trying to get ready. To be able to get back and actually feel like I'm part of a team, that's big for me."
A premier pitching prospect when he was acquired from Boston in the Chris Sale trade, Kopech made 4 starts for the White Sox in 2018 and flashed his big fastball while striking out 15 in 14⅓ innings.
Facing the Tigers on Sept. 5 at Guaranteed Rate Field, the outgoing right-hander didn't look right as Detroit roughed him up for 7 runs on 9 hits (4 home runs) over 3⅓ innings.
The next day, Kopech headed to the training room and was diagnosed with a torn elbow ligament.
It's been a long road back, but he's grown from the painful experience and all the long hours rehabbing at Camelback Ranch, the Sox's spring home.
"It was tough, but I kind of adapted to it pretty quick," Kopech said. "That patience taught me a lot. It feels like you're by yourself when you're out here. Just kind of getting to watch from afar and see guys develop in the big leagues, it made me want to be a part of it, but it made me take my work that much more serious, too.
"With the 18 months that it's been now, I've really just taken it day by day and I'm ready for this spring to kick off for me."
The long layoff makes Kopech a logical candidate to open the upcoming season at Class AAA Charlotte and get back in the groove.
The White Sox are keeping a close eye on an obvious talent with a front-end arm.
"I do see that he's matured," manager Rick Renteria said. "I do see that he's not working max effort. I do see other changes in him occurring and the ball is still coming out of his hand pretty easy. So he's on that cusp of starting to turn a corner of who he is.
"He's been down a little bit. We've got to get him back out there and let him compete and let him find his way. He's going to be a good one."
Kopech started throwing again a year ago and, as he's built his arm back up, he's altered his style a bit.
I'm not going to go out there in the first inning and try to blow fastballs by people," Kopech said. "I'm going to locate the ball, I'm going to pitch. I'm going to do what I've worked all this time to do well. I think velocity will be there when it needs to be there but it's not going to be my main focus in my pitching."