Kopech dazzles in spring debut for Chicago White Sox
So much talent, but so many question marks.
Before Tuesday, that was Michael Kopech in the White Sox's training camp this spring.
The rusty right-hander looked great throwing off the mound after first arriving at Camelback Ranch, and he looked great in live batting practice.
Truth be told, nearly every pitcher looks like Cy Young material in the early days of spring training.
The first true test came Tuesday when Kopech made his Cactus League debut, and he passed with a score close to perfect.
It was a quick outing - Kopech came out of the bullpen in the fourth inning and retired the side - but it was telling. The 24-year-old pitcher reportedly hit 97 mph or higher on six of his nine pitches.
The Sox lost to the Padres 4-2. Lance Lynn started and pitched 2⅔ scoreless innings with 5 strikeouts and 4 walks. Yermin Mercedes had an RBI double.
Kopech has a power arm, but he's not aiming to blow away every hitter he faces.
"I'm just trying to pitch to the glove right now," Kopech said. "I'm not really worried about velocity, but more so about pitching. We've got a pitching coach (Ethan Katz) that is allowing me to be competitive with myself and challenge me a little bit. With that being said, I'm having fun pitching the way I'm pitching, and if the velocity stays around that's great, too."
Can he still be a dominant pitcher after missing the last two seasons is a question Kopech addressed vs. San Diego.
There are more.
Opting out last year and sitting out the 2019 season recovering from Tommy John surgery has moved Kopech from the starting rotation to the bullpen.
How long will that last? It could be all season, or part of it.
"It definitely gives me an opportunity to feel what it means to be both," said Kopech, who broke in with the Sox late in the 2018 season and made 4 starts before hurting his elbow. "If nothing else, if at some point I do end up going back to being a starter, I think it's a good transition phase. Just kind of getting me used to competing from this role and then slowly getting stretched out and transitioning to a role that way, rather than going from one role to another.
"It definitely is the best of both worlds because I spent my entire career training as a starter and trying to create a repertoire of a four-pitch mix, and then going to a reliever role where I can just compete with my better pitches if I need to. It's a great learning opportunity for me."
Being away so long, there was a chance of the Sox sending Kopech to Class AAA Charlotte to open the season, but the Knights' don't begin play until May 4.
Would the White Sox send Kopech to their alternate training site, which has yet to be determined, for more work in April?
That is possible, but not if Kopech keeps showing he is ready to roll after such a long layoff.
"It's kind of whatever they need out of me," Kopech said. "I haven't heard a specific plan. I know the generalized plan was that I'll do some bullpen innings and then hopefully build up to have a starting career at some point. But as far as this year goes, I'm kind of just going with what I need my job to be."