When you’ve lost 71 games before the trade deadline, it’s time to be open for business. With the worst record in baseball, the Chicago White Sox are expected to be major sellers this month. Their two most valuable assets, Garrett Crochet and Luis Robert, will likely fetch substantial returns if traded. Michael Kopech, however, might not generate as much interest.
This isn’t due to a lack of talent. The former first-round pick climbed steadily through the Red Sox and then the White Sox systems, reaching Baseball America’s No. 11 prospect ranking before the 2018 season. He debuted for Chicago that year, allowing just one run in his first three starts while showcasing the fastball that earned a perfect 80 grade in his initial scouting report.
In his fourth start, though, Kopech tore his UCL, ending his season and necessitating Tommy John surgery. The recovery was lengthy, causing him to miss the entire 2019 season and opt out of the 2020 COVID-shortened campaign. Upon his return, Kopech pitched effectively — mostly in relief — during an injury-shortened 2021 before joining the White Sox rotation the following season. He seemed set for a long-term role, posting a 3.54 ERA in 25 starts in 2022.
However, Kopech became a focal point of the White Sox’s disappointing 2023 season. He went 5-12 with a 5.43 ERA and 6.46 FIP, allowing more walks than any other AL pitcher. This performance led to his removal from the rotation but also opened the door for a potential new role. Entering this season, the White Sox assigned Kopech to closer duties, hoping his elite velocity would be more effective in a late-inning role.It hasn’t worked out. The right-hander has converted just 9 out of 14 save opportunities, with a 5.05 ERA. Opponents are making solid contact against Kopech at a 12.4-percent rate, placing him in the second percentile in the league, and are drawing walks against him in 12.7 percent of plate appearances, putting him in the seventh percentile. Kopech’s slider usage has dropped from 27.2 percent last year to less than 10 percent this year, with opponents batting .280 against it.