With Deadline nearing, Kopech reflects on highs, lows of Sox tenure

CHiCAGO -- There was no immaculate inning for White Sox closer Michael Kopech working the last frame of a 9-4 Pirates victory over Chicago on Sunday at Guaranteed Rate Field to close out the White Sox first half at 27-71 with four straight losses.

But Kopech followed up his nine-pitch, three-strikeout effort against the Twins on Wednesday in Game 1 of a doubleheader with another scoreless ninth. Every outing for the 28-year-old right-hander might be his last in Chicago, which could be the case for a number of White Sox players who are available with the July 30 Trade Deadline approaching.

It’s an interesting legacy for Kopech if it does end in 2024. He came to the White Sox from Boston on Dec. 5, 2016 as part of a four-player return, including third baseman Yoán Moncada, for Chris Sale in a deal laying the groundwork for years of planned dominance on the South Side. Much like that rebuilding effort, netting two total playoff victories and the ‘21 American League Central title, there were ups and downs for the one-time top pitching prospect.

Kopech went from starter to undergoing Tommy John surgery to reliever to starter and back to the bullpen this season after opening Spring Training as part of the rotation. There were moments of brilliance, such as the first White Sox immaculate inning since Sloppy Thurston in 1923 and seven innings of one-hit baseball at Yankee Stadium in ‘22. He played an integral part within the ‘21 playoff squad.

Kopech’s rough second half as a starter in 2023, not to mention a few late-inning hiccups in ‘24, provided the counter to that success.

“I had some starts that I’ll remember for the rest of my life. I’ve been a part of games that I’ll never forget,” Kopech told MLB.com during a weekend interview. “But also there’s been a lot where I felt like I could have been better.

“So if I were to leave here, I would try to leave here with no regrets. At the end of the day, the athlete in me wants to stay and improve based on what I haven’t done well in the past.”

Kopech is in a great place personally, being happily married with four kids. He has moved into a strong place professionally, recently switching to agent Scott Boras for representation. Kopech also seems ready to make some overall repertoire adjustments, changes he came to realize after an overreliance on his four-seam fastball.

That pitch has registered above 100 mph in 2024, so the reliance is understandable, but Kopech has worked in the cutter and slider liberally during his last two stellar performances. These 41 appearances in ‘24 serve as a concentrated sample size of his entire career, in Kopech’s opinion.

“I’ve fallen in love with the strengths that I have and I’ve fallen into a habit of trying to do the same thing over and over when there’s a lot of adjustments that are required in this game,” Kopech said. “There’s a lot of things you need to do, whether it be mess with pitch selection or disrupting timing or what have you.

“A lot more goes into this game than just throwing a good pitch. There’s a lot of good pitchers who get hit on a day-in and day-out basis. I’m finally ready to play the game we are called to play and not just try to play my game amongst the Major League baseball field, if that makes sense.”

Sunday’s setback marked the 13th sweep a team has produced against the White Sox and sixth at home. There are numbers in all facets of their overall game representing this futility, but they have developed a strong clubhouse bond and worked hard for each other even with the miserable results.

This bond could be tested, with pretty much anyone on the Major League roster being a trade possibility in the early rebuild stages, according to general manager Chris Getz.

“I dealt with it last year, coming into a new organization. It’s just part of the game, and you have to be accepting of that,” said catcher Korey Lee, who was acquired from the Astros for reliever Kendall Graveman at the ‘23 Deadline. “We have a great group of guys, and something might change, but you’ve got to keep this clubhouse good.”

“Obviously, you read a lot about it,” said left fielder Andrew Benintendi, who had three hits Sunday, as did Luis Robert Jr. “But yeah, it’s out of our control, so just go about your business.”