Michael Talbert Kopech...married to wife Morgan and has three children: River, Vander and Clover...was a two-time Perfect Game All-American...faced three-time Super Bowl Champion Patrick Mahomes on March 11, 2014...Mahomes tossed a no-hitter with 16 strikeouts while Kopech allowed an earned run on two hits with 12 strikeouts in 6 IP...was committed to Arizona for baseball before signing with the Boston Red Sox after being drafted in 2014.
2024
HIgh-leverage reliever went 4-0 with the Dodgers with a 1.13 ERA (3 ER/24.0 IP) with nine saves while holding batters to a .118 average...Switched to a bullpen role with CWS after starting 42 games over the past two seasons...recorded a 2-8 record with a 4.74 ERA (23 ER/43.2 IP) and a 1.35 WHIP in 43 games...struck out 59 batters against 24 walks...Acquired by the Dodgers at the 2024 trade deadline from the Chicago White Sox in a three-team trade with the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for shortstop Alexander Albertus, third baseman Jeral Perez and outfielder Miguel Vargas...Dodgers also acquired infielder Tommy Edman from the Cardinals in the deal...Owns the sixth-longest scoreless inning streak by a White Sox pitcher this season at 6.2 IP, which he achieved from May 4-24 of this season...Did not allow an earned run in his final five appearances with the White Sox before being traded to the Dodgers...Struck out the side in his first appearance with the Dodgers...all three batters struck out on his fastball, which has the sixth-highest average velocity (98.6 mph) in MLB...Appeared in 10 Postseason games (one start), going 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA (3 ER/9.0 IP) and 10 strikeouts...Picked up the win in Game 3 of the NLCS against NYM, tossing 1.0 scoreless inning and striking out one.
2023
Made a career-high 30 appearances (27 starts) and struck out a career-high 134 batters in his first full season as a member of the White Sox starting rotation...Went 5-12 with a 5.12 ERA (72 ER/126.2 IP), 130 strikeouts, 28 home runs allowed and a .230 (108-469) opponents average as a starter...Made five quality starts…The Sox went 9-18 in his starts…Worked 7.0-plus three times and 8.0 once...His ERA increased from 4.08 (39 ER/86.0 IP) with 97 strikeouts in 16 first-half starts to 8.10 (39 ER/43.1 IP) with 37 strikeouts in 14 games (11 starts) after the All-Star Break...After going 0-3 with a 7.01 ERA (20 ER/25.2 IP) over five starts in April, rebounded to go 3-4 with a 2.83 ERA (19 ER/60.1 IP) over 11 starts in May/June combined...Limited opponents to a .215 (29-135) average with RISP…Teams posted a .219/.376/.473 (44-201) slash line the first time through the lineup...Led the American League and ranked second in MLB with 91 walks (6.33 per 9.0 IP)…Tied for fifth in the AL with 29 home runs allowed (2.02 per 9.0 IP)...Suffered the loss in his season debut on 4/3 vs. San Francisco (home opener)...Allowed seven runs on eight hits (five home runs) over 4.2 IP…The five homers allowed tied the club record set by Reynaldo López on 7/27/18 vs. Toronto...Also was charged with the loss in his second start on 4/9 at Pittsburgh despite allowing one run on two hits with five strikeouts over 6.0 IP...Posted a ND on 5/2 vs. Minnesota despite giving up one run on one hit with seven strikeouts over 6.0 IP…It marked the fifth time in his career he allowed zero or one hit over 6.0-plus IP...Earned his first win on 5/7 at Cincinnati after allowing four runs (all on solo homers) over 6.0 IP…Became just the fifth starter in Sox history to earn a win after surrendering four-plus homers...Magic Michael: Threw a career-high 8.0 scoreless IP and faced the minimum 24 batters on 5/19 vs. Kansas City, allowing just one hit with no walks and 10 strikeouts…Retired the first 16 batters before his perfect game bid ended on Michael Massey's single with one out in the sixth inning…Massey was then retired on an inning-ending double play…Additional notes from his outing: First White Sox pitcher to face the minimum 24 batters through 8.0 IP since LHP Carlos Rodón took a perfect game into the ninth inning on 4/14/21 vs. Cleveland. Third pitcher in franchise history to work 8.0-plus IP with one or no hits allowed, 10-plus strikeouts and zero walks, joining Floyd Bannister (9/13/87 at Seattle) and Gary Peters (7/15/63 vs. Baltimore)…The last MLB pitcher to record those numbers was Toronto's Alek Manoah on 9/13/21 vs. Tampa Bay. Fourth time in 2023 a Sox pitcher took a no-hitter into the sixth inning: Kopech on 5/2 vs. Minnesota, Lance Lynn on 4/29 vs. Tampa Bay and Lucas Giolito on 4/18-2 vs. Philadelphia...Threw 7.0 scoreless IP in his next start on 5/24 at Cleveland, allowing two hits with one walk and nine strikeouts over 7.0 scoreless IP…Became the first Sox pitcher to record consecutive scoreless starts of 7.0-plus IP with nine-plus strikeouts and allowing two hits or less...Went 0-4 with a 4.91 ERA (16 ER/29.1 IP) over his next seven starts from 5/29-7/14…Posted a ND on 6/4 vs. Detroit despite giving up two runs on three hits with one walk and nine strikeouts over 7.0 IP, his final outing of the season of more than 5.0 IP...Was placed on the 15-day injured list on 7/2 (retro to 6/29) with right shoulder inflammation and reinstated on 7/14…Started the second-half opener that night at Atlanta, allowing four runs on one hit and four walks over 0.2 IP, his shortest career start…Opened the game by loading the bases on two walks and a HBP before giving up a grand slam to Matt Olson...Ended his seven-start winless stretch on 7/20 at the Mets, allowing just one run on two hit over 5.2 IP...Earned his final win of the season on 8/5 at Cleveland (2 ER/5.1 IP)…Recorded a 9.50 ERA (19 ER/18.0 IP) with 22 walks over five starts from 8/11-9/3...Was moved to the bullpen, where he made relief appearances on 9/9 at Detroit (1 ER/1.0 IP), 9/12 vs. Kansas City (1 ER/0.2 IP) and 9/15 vs. Minnesota (4 ER/1.0 IP)...Served as an "opener" on 9/15 at Washington in his final appearance of the season…Allowed one unearned run on one hit in 1.0 IP...Underwent successful surgery on 9/22 to remove a baker's cyst from his right knee…The procedure was performed by Dr. Nikhil Verma at Rush Oak Brook Surgery Center.
2022
Made 25 starts in his first full season as a member of the White Sox starting rotation...his 25 starts were the most of his professional career, and his 119.1 IP tied for the second-most (126.1 in 2018 with Class AAA Charlotte). l Before and After: Went 2-2 with a 1.92 ERA (11 ER/51.2 IP), 0.93 WHIP, .137 (24-175) opponents average and two home runs allowed before leaving his start on 6/12 vs. Texas with right knee discomfort...by comparison, was 3-7 with a 4.79 ERA (36 ER/67.2 IP), 1.39 WHIP, .240 (61-254) opponents average and 13 homers allowed over his last 14 starts...Mr. One and Done: Allowed one hit or less in five-plus IP five times, including six hitless IP on 8/12 vs. Detroit...the five such starts tied the Yankees' Nestor Cortes and Houston's Cristían Javier for the most in MLB, and tied Carlos Rodón (2021) for the most by a White Sox pitcher since 1920...Righty Tighty: Limited right-handers to a .186/.269/.328 (46- 247) slash line with 43 strikeouts...ranked among the American League leaders vs. righties in average (fourth), OPS (ninth, .597), slugging percentage (10th) and on-base percentage (12th)...Home and Road: Posted a 3.01 ERA (23 ER/68.2 IP) with 56 strikeouts in 13 starts at home and a 4.26 mark (24 ER/50.2 IP) with 49 strikeouts in 12 road starts...held opponents to a .157/.255/.289 (37-235) slash line at home, compared to .247/.341/.418 (48-194) on the road...Interleague Sensation: Went 3-0 with a 0.89 ERA (2 ER/20.1 IP) and 0.89 WHIP in four interleague starts...his first three starts vs. National League teams were scoreless (15.1 IP)...Rest Up: Nine of his starts came on four days rest (5.30 ERA), 10 on five (2.43 ERA) and six on six or more (3.54 ERA)...Opponents hit just .149/.311/.224 (10-67) with RISP, .125/.352/.250 (5-40) with RISP/two outs and .191/.315/.309 (39-181) the first time through the lineup...Made his season debut on 4/10 at Detroit and received an ND after allowing one run on two hits with three strikeouts in four IP…received an ND in his home debut on 4/16 vs. Tampa Bay, allowing one unearned run over five IP...Threw four scoreless IP in an ND on 5/4 at the Cubs...gave up one unearned run on two hits with seven strikeouts over six IP on 5/9 vs. Cleveland but received an ND despite leaving with a 4-1 lead...Suffered the loss on 5/15 vs. the Yankees after allowing three runs on one hit and four walks with three strikeouts over six IP...became the sixth pitcher in club history to lose after allowing one hit in six-plus IP, and first since Rodón on 5/26/21 vs. St. Louis (1 ER/6.0 IP)...the other four Sox pitchers are RHP Freddy Garcia on 8/23/05 at Minnesota (1 ER/8.0 IP), RHP Richard Dotson on 5/18/83 vs. Baltimore (1 ER/8.0 IP), RHP Jack Fisher on 9/28/68 vs. California (1 ER/7.0 IP) and LHP Billy Pierce on 7/27/50 vs. Washington (3 ER/7.2 IP)...source: STATS...Was on the Paternity List from 5/17-19...made the start on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball on 5/22-2 at the Yankees...earned his first win after allowing just one hit with two walks and six strikeouts over seven scoreless IP...retired the first 17 Yankees before Rob Brantly doubled with two outs in the sixth to break up the no-hit and perfect game bid...Suffered the loss on 6/1 vs. Toronto (5 ER/3.0 IP) when he allowed his first two home runs of the season, including a leadoff shot to Santiago Espinal, and his first runs on the road since 4/10 at Detroit...Rising to the Occasion: Threw six scoreless IP in a victory vs. the Dodgers on 6/7, allowing just one hit with one walk and eight strikeouts...Worked just 0.2 IP on 6/12 vs. Texas before leaving with right knee discomfort...did not miss a turn in the rotation and made the start on 6/19 at Houston (L; 4 ER/5.0 IP, 2 HR)...Snapped his six-start winless stretch on 7/15 at Minnesota, allowing two earned runs over five IP...worked 5.1 scoreless IP in a win on 7/26 at Colorado...Nibbling at a No-No: Threw six scoreless IP on 8/12 vs. Detroit, striking out a career-high 11 batters with three walks (85 pitches)...became the first Sox pitcher since at least 1974 to exit a game with a no-hitter of at least six IP still intact (STATS LLC)...most recently, RHPs Dane Dunning (8/30/20 vs. Kansas City) and Reynaldo López (8/25/19 vs. Texas) each threw five no-hit IP for the Sox before reaching pitch limits...Allowed the first four batters to reach base on 8/22 at Kansas City before leaving with left knee discomfort...was placed on the 15-day injured list on 8/23 with a left knee strain and reinstated on 9/7....made the start that afternoon at Seattle and received an ND (1 ER/3.2 IP)...Made his final start on 9/13 vs. Colorado, allowing two runs on three hits over five IP for his fifth win...was placed on the 15-day injured list on 9/17 with right shoulder inflammation and missed the remainder of the season.
2021
Spent his first full season in the major leagues, making 44 appearances out of the bullpen and four starts in his first professional season since 2018...Missed the entire 2019 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery and opted out of the 2020 campaign...Went 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA (3 ER/14.0 IP) and 23 strikeouts over four starts and 3-3 with a 3.90 ERA (24 ER.55.1 IP), 80 strikeouts and 14 holds in 40 relief appearances...his 36.1 percent strikeout rate ranked third on the team behind Liam Hendriks (42.3) and Craig Kimbrel (36.7)...Throwing Missiles: Threw 19 pitches at 100.0-plus mph, 243 at 98.0-plus and 678 at 95.0-plus (threw 1,154 total pitches)...Bullpen Breakdown: Averaged 13.01 strikeouts per 9.0 IP out of the bullpen, the third-highest total in franchise history (min. 50.0 IP)...28 of his 40 relief appearances were scoreless...threw 2.0-plus IP 12 times, including a season-high 3.0 IP on three occasions...Left and Right: Limited left-handers to a .176/.222/.370 (19-108) average with 54 strikeouts...struck out 54 of the 117 batters he faced (46.2 IP) ... right-handers batted .235/.315/.376 (35-149) with 49 strikeouts (29.2 percent rate)...When it Rains it Pours: Gave up 14 of his 24 runs as a reliever over three outings: five in 1.0 IP on 7/31 vs. Cleveland and 8/26 at Toronto and four in 1.1 IP on 9/4 at Kansas City...Made his first career Opening Day roster...Worked 2.0-plus IP in each of his first three relief appearances over the White Sox first nine games...became the first Sox right-handed reliever to toss 2.0-plus IP in three of the team's first nine games of a season since David Aardsma in 2007...Made his season debut on 4/2 at the Angels, earning the victory in relief...struck out three batters over 2.0 hitless IP (six pitches at 99.0-plus mph)...it marked his second career win, first in relief and first MLB appearance since 9/5/18 vs. Detroit...Struck out five batters over 2.0 scoreless IP in his second outing on 4/5 at Seattle...Started on 4/18-2 at Boston, allowing one run on one hit with four strikeouts in 3.0 IP of a ND...retired the first nine batters in order...marked his first start since 4/15/18 vs. Cleveland, his final outing before elbow surgery...made his first career appearance against the Red Sox (drafted him in the 2014 first round)...Avoiding Contact: Made his second start on 4/25 vs. Texas, allowing one run on four hits with no walks and a career-high 10 strikeouts over 5.0 IP...fanned 10 through 4.0 IP, joining Carlos Rodón (7/25/17 at the Cubs; 11 SO/4.0 IP) as the only White Sox starters to accomplish that feat...joined Rodón and Gio González (8/17/20 vs. Detroit; 10 SO/4.2 IP) as the only Sox starters with 10-plus strikeouts in 5.0 IP or less...Worked 3.0 scoreless IP in relief on 5/1 vs. Cleveland, allowing just one hit with three strikeouts...marked his third consecutive appearance of at least 3.0 IP...Posted a 0.69 ERA (1 ER/13.0 IP) over 11 appearances from 5/24-7/28, including a streak of seven straight scoreless appearances (8.0 IP) to start that stretch...Was placed on the injured list on 5/31 (retro to 5/28) with a strained left hamstring...was reinstated on 6/30...earned the win in his first appearance off the IL on 7/1 vs. Minnesota, retiring all three batters he faced...Made his first career plate appearance on 7/25 at Milwaukee, grounding out...gave up five runs in 1.0 IP on 7/31 vs. Cleveland as his season ERA rose from 1.52 to 2.55...His ERA was at 2.72 entering his appearance on 8/26 at Toronto when he allowed five runs on four hits over 1.0 IP...gave up four runs on four hits over 1.1 IP on 9/4 at Kansas City as his ERA increased to a season-high 4.00...Registered a 1.76 ERA (3 ER/15.1 IP) over his final nine outings (one start), striking out 26 batters...Made his final start on 9/23-2 at Cleveland, retiring all six batters faced with four strikeouts...Threw 3.0 scoreless IP in relief on 9/29 vs. Cincinnati...also threw 3.0 IP in relief in the season finale on 10/3 vs. Detroit, allowing one run with a career-high six strikeouts...Appeared in two games of the ALDS vs. Houston, going 1-0 with a 18.00 ERA (6 ER/3.0 IP) and five strikeouts...earned the win in Game 3 in Chicago despite allowing three runs on four hits and one homer in 2.1 IP.
2020
Opted out of the shortened, 60-game regular season for personal reasons in July... Preseason Baseball America Rankings: No. 3 prospect and possessing the Best Fastball and Best Slider in the White Sox organization; No. 33 prospect in baseball...Preseason MLB.com Rankings: No. 3 prospect in the Sox system; No. 20 overall and No. 4 RHP prospect in baseball.
2019
Missed the entire season while recovering from Tommy John surgery performed on 9/18/18 in a procedure in Los Angeles by Dr. Neal ElAttrache ... Preseason Baseball America Rankings: No. 2 prospect in the Sox organization; No. 21 prospect in baseball ... Preseason MLB.com Rankings: No. 2 prospect in the Chicago system; No. 19 prospect overall and No. 3 right-handed pitcher in baseball.
2018
Spent most of the season with Class AAA Charlotte before making his first four major-league starts with the White Sox … two of his three home starts were shortened by rain ... His contract was purchased from Charlotte on 8/21 … made his major-league debut that night vs. Minnesota, allowing three hits with no walks and four strikeouts over 2.0 scoreless IP of a no decision … fanned Miguel Sanó in the first inning for his first career strikeout … was removed before the top of the third following a 56-minute rain delay ... Earned his first win on 8/26 at Detroit after giving up one run on seven hits with no walks and four strikeouts over 6.0 IP … became the first pitcher since at least 1908 to allow one run or less with no walks in each of his first two major-league starts ... Worked 3.0 scoreless IP on 9/1 vs. Boston (his former club), allowing one hit … was removed from the game following a 2:09 rain delay … became just the third pitcher since at least 1908 to allow one run or less and one walk or less in each of his first three MLB starts, joining St. Louis' Donovan Osborne (1992) and Cleveland's Cody Anderson (2015) ... Suffered his first loss on 9/5 vs. the Tigers after allowing seven runs on nine hits (four home runs) ... Was diagnosed on 9/6 with a torn right ulnar collateral ligament … underwent successful Tommy John surgery on 9/18 ... Went 7-7 with a 3.70 ERA (52 ER/126.1 IP), 170 strikeouts and a .219 (101-461) opponents average in 24 starts with Charlotte … at the time of his promotion, led all MiLB pitchers in strikeouts and led the International League in SO/9.0 IP (12.11) ... Struck out 10-plus batters on 4/20 at Indianapolis (10), 6/8 vs. Lehigh Valley (10) and 7/14 at Durham (11) … fanned nine batters six times and eight batters on five occasions ... Was named the White Sox Minor League Pitcher of the Month for April after posting a 2.14 ERA (5 ER/21.0 IP) with 29 strikeouts and a .189 (14-74) opponents average over four starts ... Went 4-0 with a 1.84 ERA (9 ER/44.0 IP), four walks and 59 strikeouts over his last seven starts from 7/14-8/16 … did not issue a walk over his final 24.0 IP ... Entered the season ranked by Baseball America as the No. 2 prospect and possessing the Best Fastball in the White Sox system (No. 11 overall prospect in baseball) … was ranked by MLB.com as the No. 2 prospect in the Sox system, No. 10 overall and No. 3 RHP prospect in baseball.
2017
Went 9-8 with a 2.88 ERA (43 ER/134.1 IP) and 172 strikeouts over 25 starts between Class AA Birmingham (22 starts) and Class AAA Charlotte (three starts) in his first season in the White Sox organization ... His 172 strikeouts tied for the fifth-highest total in the minor leagues and were second-most among Sox farmhands behind Alec Hansen (191) ... Averaged 11.5 strikeouts per 9.0 IP and limited opponents to a .193 (92-476) average ... Was named the Most Outstanding Pitcher in the Southern League after ranking among the league leaders in strikeouts (2nd, 155), ERA (4th, 2.87) and WHIP (6th, 1.15) ... Became the first Barons pitcher to win the award since Mark Buehrle in 2000 … was a SL midseason and postseason All-Star ... Was a two-time White Sox Minor League Pitcher of the Month honoree, earning the distinction in May and August/September. l Struck out 10-plus batters five times ... Made his season debut on 4/8 at Jackson, receiving a no decision after allowing two runs on three hits with 10 strikeouts over 4.1 IP … earned his first win on 4/25 vs. Jacksonville, allowing one hit with eight strikeouts over 6.0 scoreless IP ... Went 3-1 with a 2.31 ERA (9 ER/35.0 IP), 47 strikeouts and a .167 opponents average (20-120) over six starts in May … struck out 10 for the second time on 5/31 vs. Chattanooga ... Worked 8.0 scoreless IP on 7/20 vs. Jackson, allowing four hits with no walks and eight strikeouts ... Recorded double-digit strikeouts in three of his final four outings with Barons: 7/26 at Chattanooga (1 ER/6.0 IP; 12 SO), 8/5 at Jacksonville (0 ER/7.0 IP; 11 SO) and 8/12 vs. the Lookouts (0 ER/7.0 IP; 10 SO) ... Was promoted to the Knights on 8/18 for the remainder of the season … made his Charlotte debut on 8/21 at Norfolk, earning the win after allowing two runs on six hits over 5.0 IP ... Surrendered two runs with seven strikeouts in his final start of the season on 9/1 vs. the Tides. l Following the season, was rated by MLB.com as the No. 9 overall prospect in baseball and No. 2 in the White Sox system ... Entered the season ranked by MLB.com as the No. 3 Prospect in the Sox organization and No. 30 in baseball … was rated by Baseball America as the No. 32 Prospect in baseball and No. 5 Prospect and possessing the Best Fastball in the Sox system.
2016
Spent most of the the season at Class A Salem, where he went 4-1 with a 2.25 ERA (13 ER/52.0 IP), 82 strikeouts and a .147 (25-171) opponents average...Averaged 14.2 strikeouts per 9.0 IP with Salem and limited left-handers to a .120 (12-100) average... Began the season on the disabled list with a broken right hand suffered in spring training … made one rehab start for Advanced Rookie Lowell on 6/17 vs. Vermont, throwing 4.1 scoreless IP...Was reinstated from the disabled list on 7/7 and made his Salem debut that night at Carolina, allowing one hit with six strikeouts over 4.0 IP in a no decision...Did not allow a run over his first 13.1 IP of the season, including his only start for Lowell and his first two with Salem...Struck out 10-plus batters four times over a five-start stretch in August, including three in a row from 8/13-24 … gave up one hit and struck out 10 over 6.0 scoreless IP on 8/2 at Wilmington...threw 7.0 scoreless IP on 8/24 at Potomac, allowing just one hit with 10 strikeouts...Owned a 1.23 ERA entering his final start with Salem before giving up six runs over 0.1 IP on 8/31 vs. Winston-Salem...Went 3-0 with 2.01 ERA (5 ER/22.1 IP) and 26 strikeouts over six starts with Surprise in the Arizona Fall League … led the AFL in ERA and ranked second among starting pitchers in strikeouts per 9.0 IP (11.25)...Worked 2.0 perfect IP with three strikeouts in the Fall Stars Game … was named one of two starting pitchers on the AFL Top Prospects team...White Sox acquisition was recommended by Joe Butler, John Tumminia and Keith Staab.
2015
Spent entire season with Greenville, where he was named to the South Atlantic League mid-season All-Star Team … averaged 9.7 strikeouts per 9.0 IP (70 ER/65.0 IP) ... Allowed three runs or less in all 15 of his starts, including one run or no runs eight times … Was named SAL Pitcher of the Week for 4/20-26 after going 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA (10.0 IP) and four hits allowed in two starts … Following the season, was ranked by Baseball America as the No. 5 Prospect in the Red Sox organization … also was rated by Baseball America as posessing the best fastball in the SAL, as well as the best fastball and slider in the Red organization.
2014
Made eight starts with the GCL Red Sox in his pro debut … limited opponents to a .216 (11-51) opponents average and averaged 10.5 strikeouts per 9.0 IP (16 ER/13.2 IP) ... Was signed by Tim Collinsworth.
