Kopech back after spending a month on IL

CHICAGO – Michael Kopech was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Wednesday and was ready for action against the Twins after the White Sox right-hander was out since May 27 due to left hamstring soreness and a stint on the bereavement list.

“I kind of experienced it a little bit in ‘16 coming back from an injury then,” Kopech told the media on the field Wednesday. “Kind of overworking it, feeling that exact same sensation.

“It’s painful, it hurts, but I knew it wasn’t major, something I would have to work through. It took a little longer than I wanted but we put in a lot of good work and I’m glad to be back. I honestly was optimistic about it from the get-go. I thought it would be a week or so, maybe two. And it’s just a tedious thing: Worked on it one day, felt great and not so great the next day so the past week or so I started trending upward.”

Kopech threw simulated games on Friday of last week and Monday of this week. The White Sox decided he could then return without a Minor League rehab assignment.

Through 14 games and 31 1/3 innings this season, Kopech has posted a 1.72 ERA with 45 strikeouts. His presence will be valuable with left-hander Aaron Bummer (strained right hamstring) and right-hander Evan Marshall (strained right flexor pronator) moved to the injured list Wednesday.

“I really just try to go out there and do my job every time,” Kopech said. “I've had a lot of distractions in the past and probably caused me to not be 100 percent authentic on the mound.

“Right now my only focus is on the mound and supporting my family in that way, with me being able to kind of go out there with one goal in mind and one objective in mind. I just feel like I've been able to stay in my focus. I'm just grateful I've been doing well, and I hope to keep that going.”

Burger, Cespedes are the future

Jake Burger, the No. 11 White Sox prospect, per MLB Pipeline, heard a few days ago about being named to the American League team for the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game on July 11 in Colorado. But even after getting the news from Triple-A Charlotte manager Wes Helms, Burger had to stay quiet until Wednesday afternoon.

It’s another great 2021 moment for the team’s top pick in the 2017 Draft, playing in his first full Minor League season after missing three years due to a pair of ruptured left Achilles.

“You look back a year ago and I was in a collegiate/pro mix league,” said Burger, who was playing in the CarShield Collegiate League in Missouri last year at this time. “It's been a crazy year and hopefully things keep going the way they are. It's an honor for sure.”

Burger, 25, has a .317/.365/.593 slash line for the Knights this season with 10 home runs, 14 doubles, 35 RBIs and 28 runs scored. He also has played four games at second, using his versatility to make him even more valuable for a possible Major League callup.

“For me, it's just a pitch-by-pitch thing and day by day,” Burger said. “Keep doing what I'm doing, and the rest will take care of itself. I'm very process oriented and learning the game every single day. Obviously, if something happens, it happens. But I'm just going to be me and keep doing the things I'm doing.”

Outfielder Yoelqui Céspedes, the team’s No. 2 prospect, will be joining Burger in the All-Star Futures Game. Céspedes started 4-for-31 with Class A Winston-Salem but had four hits for the Dash on Tuesday.

“He’s a stud. I’m really excited to meet up with him again at the Futures Game,” said Burger of Céspedes. “His pop is unbelievable. Power is ridiculous. He’s a good kid. He has been just incredible. I knew he was that type of player.”

Managing Jiménez’s excitement

White Sox manager Tony La Russa received a text video from Eloy Jiménez showing him looking great while taking 10 swings. The left fielder, who had surgery to fix a ruptured left pectoral tendon during the season’s first week, looks excited to come back sooner than later, but it’s the White Sox job to monitor and manage that enthusiasm via the recovery.

“It was a serious injury and it’s well documented what the healing time is and then you’ve got to work yourself into baseball shape,” La Russa said. “There is a rush period we would get very nervous about and I know he’s anxious to get back, but the reality of him understanding that when he gets back, he has to stay back and not get here too soon.

“Got to be patient. We’re going to rely on the qualified people that are going to be examining him.”