The White Sox will need to rely on their five guys in the starting rotation this year. Michael Kopech is one of those guys who will be relied upon heavily as they look to bounce back as a unit.
Michael Kopech will play a vital role in how successful the White Sox ends up being in 2023. If he provides a lot of innings pitched along with maintaining velocity/health, 2023 should be a massive break-out year for the Texas native.
The Chicago White Sox went head-to-head with the San Francisco Giants on Thursday. Kopech's outing wasn't what many wanted to see from him in a start like this.
The Chicago White Sox needs more from Michael Kopech in 2023.
Michael Kopech has issued three walks, been dinged with a pitch clock violation and is sitting 91-94 with his heater.
— James Fegan (@JRFegan) March 23, 2023
Two scoreless frames though, with plenty of whiffs on his breaking stuff.
Michael Kopech, Breaking Ball Swords. ⚔️⚔️ pic.twitter.com/yh8zRtSq0D
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 23, 2023
While he got through two scoreless frames due to his slider, his command and his velocity weren't where they he wanted it to be and that came back to bite him the rest of the outing.
Will Wilson takes Kopech out of the park. Three-run homer following Kopech's fourth walk.
— Daryl Van Schouwen (@CST_soxvan) March 23, 2023
Kopech finished with a stat line of 3 innings pitched, five earned runs, three strikeouts, and a dreadful four walks.
After the outing, the press discovered that Kopech had been dealing with a sinus infection which could be a significant reason why he performed the way he does today. Still, you'd like to see him fight through stuff like that.
Talked to Michael Kopech after his start, sounded awful (hoarse) after pitching through an upper respiratory issue today. "Thought I'd work through it and get my work in. Timing just wasn't there, trying to find it the whole outing," he said.
— Daryl Van Schouwen (@CST_soxvan) March 23, 2023
Kopech was clearly dealing with a respiratory issue postgame.
— James Fegan (@JRFegan) March 23, 2023
"I don't know if it had anything to do with being sick or not. My timing was just not there."
"Obviously velocity has been a little all over the place. That's something that will come."
Whether the sinus infection was a reason why he underperformed or not, it was a start that White Sox fans don't want to see again in the near future. Kopech is a lot to handle as a batter when he's at his best and the White Sox will need Kopech's best for the majority of the 2023 major league season.
Expect Michael Kopech's next start to be his first of the 2023 regular season, either on the road against the Houston Astros or at the first home series with the San Fransico Giants who hit him hard today.