Chicago White Sox: Michael Kopech’s slider is dancing

It is so nice to have regular Michael Kopech content in the year 2021. It has been a long time coming but he is finally healthy and ready to make an impact. He pitched in the Chicago White Sox 7-2 Cactus League win over the San Francisco Giants on Monday and he didn’t disappoint. He has pretty much been awesome the entire spring but now there is more to be excited about.

The Chicago White Sox are happy with Michael Kopech so far this spring.

When most people think of Michael Kopech, they think of his 100 miles per hour fastball. It is already a tough pitch to hit because of how fast it moves. It makes it even harder when it moves at 100 miles per hour. He can fool hitters with ease using that pitch. As long as he is healthy, he is one of the most talented pitchers in the organization.

It gets even more lethal when you start thinking about the offspeed stuff. In Monday’s game against the Giants, he was hitting his spots with his slider. Pinpoint accuracy with that pitch is going to put a lot of hitters away. It is a fairly untouchable pitch when he throws it right and it is as untouchable as a pitch can be when a hitter is expecting 100 mph gas. The combination will help him create a lot of strikeouts.

Whenever Michael Kopech throws the offspeed stuff, he can get it in the high 80s. It comes out of his arm looking slow because of the fastball he throws which catches hitters off guard in the box. He will be bringing this out of the bullpen to start the season but he could be a full-time starter by Opening Day 2022.

For some reason, he is the most exciting pitcher on the White Sox by far. There are some who are more proven and may even be better but none more exciting. If he keeps this up, he will be at or near the top of the rotation in no time. For now, we just have to watch him as he continues developing his pitches. This has been a productive spring for him.