The Chicago White Sox is a team loaded with great players. Every team, however, has a group of players that are considered to be a part of the core. It is time to count down the ten players that are considered to be the most important ones on the team this season.
At number ten is Michael Kopech. The White Sox landed Kopech as the second piece behind Yoan Moncada in the deal that sent Chris Sale to the Boston Red Sox. It was a trade that changed the identity of each team for the present and future.
Kopech goes into the season as the tenth most important player as he is now in the rotation. He is still going to be on an innings limit for 2022 after missing a lot of time in 2019 and 2020 but getting back into the rotation is very nice for him.
The rotation is going to be a very interesting one for the White Sox this year. Carlos Rodon is no longer there so Kopech needs to step up. There are some outstanding arms in there so the order is going to be something to watch. As it stands right now, expect Kopech to be the number four.
Michael Kopech is one of the Chicago White Sox’s x-factors for the 2022 season.
Kopech was outstanding as a reliever in 2021. They eased him back into game action well which was a smart idea. He threw 103 strikeouts in 69.1 innings which is an impressive total. He had a slight issue with tipping pitches down the stretch but it was corrected after a few appearances.
He is the type of pitcher that has devastating power stuff. He throws a fastball that can reach triple digits with movement. When you combine that with junk that moves, even more, it is really hard to hit. When he makes his pitches the right way, he could be considered impossible to hit.
The White Sox are lucky to have this guy. His floor is what he was in 2021. His ceiling is what you see out of the best pitchers in Major League Baseball. He has the most arm talent of anyone in the organization, he just needs to own it.