Kopech has support of the team
Sox players, coaches address pitcher’s decision not to play
Carlos Rodon offered support for teammate Micheal Kopech a day after the White Sox announced the young starting pitcher’s decision not to play this season.
“It’s Michael’s decision, and we have no idea what’s going on in his world, and as a team we 100% support him,” Rodon said Saturday. “It’s a tough loss, a guy who can boost our rotation or wherever he would line up in the row of arms.
“But looking forward to having him back next year.”
Kopech, 24, decided not to play this shortened season because of personal reasons, according to a team spokesman.
Bench coach Joe McEwing, who is serving as manager while Rick Renteria is away for a family funeral in California, echoed Rodon’s sentiments.
“He opted out, and that’s a personal decision,” McEwing said. “We support him as an organization 100% and we’re looking forward to having him back in a White Sox uniform at some point.”
Kopech’s announcement was one of two major roster moves Friday. The team also placed starting third baseman Yoan Moncada and relief pitcher Jose Ruiz on the 10-day injured list for unspecified reasons.
Kopech and Moncada were key parts of the trade that sent pitcher Chris Sale to the Boston Red Sox in December 2016.
Kopech made four starts after getting called up from Triple-A Charlotte in August 2018. He underwent Tommy John surgery that September and spent last season recovering.
He made one Cactus League start this spring, striking out one in one inning March 10 against the Rangers.
Even in Kopech’s absence, the Sox do appear to have pitching depth, with Gio Gonzalez and Dallas Keuchel joining a rotation that already included Lucas Giolito, Dylan Cease and Reynaldo Lopez.
Rodon, who had Tommy John surgery on May 15, 2019, also is expected to play a big role.
“It’s tough losing Kopech, a great arm,” Rodon said. “(It) would be nice to see him throw, but we have some experience on our side with Gio Gonzalez and Lucas coming off an All-Star season. And Keuchel, his resume speaks for itself. We have some young arms. We can do some mixing and matching and find the guy that best suits wherever he needs to be.
“We have some depth and we can be very good.”
Rodon faced 13 batters Saturday in an intrasquad game and allowed one run on three hits while striking out two and walking two.
Dane Dunning and Jimmy Lambert are others coming back from Tommy John surgery and potentially could make an impact. Lambert pitched Saturday, and Dunning is scheduled to start Sundayin an intrasquad game.
“As an organization and from top to bottom, we put ourselves in a real good position depth-wise in our rotation with everyone we have in this clubhouse and everyone that’s coming along,” McEwing said. “With Jimmy Lambert and Dane Dunning being back healthy and Carlos, it was great to see him out there (Saturday).
“Haven’t seen him (Rodon) out there in a while. It was really nice to see him out there competing.”
Hitting coach Frank Menechino wasn’t sure what the timetable would look like for getting Moncada back in the flow at the plate once he returns. He estimated Moncada could need 10 to 15 at-bats to see where he is at and 20 to get started in the right direction.
“As far as days, I don’t know what he’s able to do while he’s not here,” Menechino said. “He’s a great athlete, and it’s going to be sooner rather than later for him.
“Once he sees his teammates playing, he’ll want to get in there. And that might not be such a bad thing. If he’s in shape and he’s ready to handle the workload, he’ll get in there pretty quick.”