Kopech itching to work his way back into Chicago White Sox's 2020 rotation
As it stands now, Lucas Giolito and Dylan Cease are in the Chicago White Sox's starting rotation next season.
So is Reynaldo Lopez, but with the highest ERA (5.57) in the major leagues this year, he's far from a lock to keep his job.
Expected to finally get back to contender status next year, and with plenty of money to spend, the Sox are going to add one or two veteran starters during the off-season.
They also are hoping to have Michael Kopech back in the rotation in 2020.
"He's doing very, very well," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. "He's moving along in a great way in terms of health and continues to show everybody that he's making tremendous strides to put himself back on track."
A full year removed from Tommy John surgery, Kopech has been throwing bullpens in Arizona.
"I am about as ready as I can be," Kopech said on a conference call Thursday. "I've done everything I can to prepare. It's been a long time coming, I feel like. But I feel ready to go, ready for next spring."
Acquired by the Sox in the 2016 trade that also landed Yoan Moncada and sent Chris Sale to Boston, Kopech made his major-league debut last season and rain delays seemed to be his biggest problem.
Two of the right-hander's 4 starts with the White Sox were cut short by wet weather, but the his Sept. 5 outing against the Tigers was full of bad news.
Not only did Kopech allow 7 runs on 9 hits (4 home runs) in 3⅓ innings, he injured his elbow and was done for the season.
Understandably despondent at the time, Kopech has had plenty of time to reflect and find positives.
"I've really been able to take a step back away from the game and allow life to catch up and for the game to slow down," the 23-year-old pitcher said. "I'm taking a results-based mentality I've taken for most of my career and kind of rewired that. The results are only as good as the preparation I've put in.
"I'm trying to make sure I'm fully prepared and a well-rounded athlete, not just a hard-throwing pitcher, and come back next year with the velocity I already had as a tool but also with some well-polished tools I've tried to develop over my rehab.
"I think Tommy John has been the best thing to ever happen to me, not just for baseball but in general."
Kopech could break camp with the Sox out of spring training, or he could open next season with Class AAA Charlotte to shake off some rust.
"When you're looking at Michael, he wasn't a finished product when we first got him," Renteria said. "He was starting to get his feet wet here. We want to make sure he continues to progress as he is right now. Get him into camp healthy and ready to go 100 percent. Get him into spring games and then see where he's at and at that point make a determination as to where he'll begin."
No matter when he arrives next year, Kopech can't wait to help the White Sox end a run of seven straight losing seasons.
"It's all coming together," he said. "Happy days will be here again. Multiple championships as predicted. Ride with us or get run over. Being part of the rotation is just going to be a relief once I'm able to work my way back there. First things first. I have to come to spring and compete for that job.
"To see everything coming together and what everyone has done, Timmy (Anderson) is going to win the batting title, Jose (Abreu) is going to do what Jose does, (Lucas) Giolito had a heck of a season. It's just going to be a lot of fun to be a part of. We're realizing how good we can be, a few things need to fall into place."