Prospects eager to add power to rotation
Kopech, Crochet are known to reach 100 mph on radar gun
Michael Kopech had one spring appearance in 2020 — but it was jaw-dropping.
The Chicago White Sox right-hander had six of his 11 pitches clocked at 100 or 101 mph in a March 10 Cactus League game against the Texas Rangers.
He’s not the only Sox player known to reach triple-digits on the radar gun.
Left-hander Garret Crochet put on quite the show in his major-league debut last September against the Cincinnati Reds. He struck out two in an inning on Sept. 18 that included six pitches at either 100 or 101 mph.
The two prospects are eager to aid the Sox in 2021.
Kopech hasn’t pitched in a big-league game since 2018. He missed 2019 while recovering from Tommy John surgery, and after participating in spring training, Kopech opted out when the sport returned from the break because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Kopech said felt “relieved” to be back on the mound and going through drills to prepare for the upcoming season.
“It’s been a long time for me obviously,” Kopech said during a conference call Saturday. “And getting back out there and getting comfortable with the same group of guys, but a few new faces, makes everything a little bit more lighthearted, a little bit easier.”
Kopech, 24, is the No. 39 prospect in baseball, according to MLB.com.
He says he’s ready for any opportunity ahead.
“I don’t know if I can speak to exactly what it’s going to be right now, but we talked about the flexibility of maybe being in a different role than I’ve kind of anticipated in the past,” Kopech said. “So maybe not coming in and being part of the rotation right away, but maybe as a reliever or something along those lines.
“Not really sure exactly what that entails yet. But as far as what it means for me, I’m going to pitch the best I can every time I take the mound, so nothing really changes in that regard. I just want to help the team win in some way. If that’s in the bullpen or if that’s starting, I’m going to do it, either way.”
Crochet was a factor out of the pen for the Sox after he joined the team from the Schaumburg training facility. It was quite the journey for Crochet, who began 2020 pitching with the Tennessee Volunteers. The Sox selected him with the No. 11 pick in the draft, and by September, he was making an impact in the big leagues. He didn’t allow a run and struck out eight in six relief innings (five outings).
“I knew that I was a tough kid and that I wasn’t really one to give up very easily but I definitely showed myself a lot more than I know that I had in the tank,” Crochet said Saturday.
MLB.com ranked Crochet, 21, as the No. 56 prospect. While starting is the longterm plan for Crochet, he’ll likely serve as a multi-inning reliever this season.
“Anything involving being with the big-league team is pretty interesting to me,” Crochet said. “I’m just preparing right now to be a reliever but ready to fill any role they need me to.”
Manager Tony La Russa has liked what he’s seen out of Kopech and Crochet.
After Kopech’s bullpen session Wednesday, La Russa said, “when he hit his spot, and that delivery was together, the outcome was electric.”
La Russa also used “electric” to describe Crochet.
“I think everybody knows there’s not a hitter around who is going to look forward to standing in there against him,” La Russa said of Crochet on Thursday.
Crochet exited after striking out two batters in Game 3 of last season’s wild-card series against the Oakland Athletics with what general manager Rick Hahn later said was a “flexor strain, essentially a muscle strain in the (left) forearm.”
After a slow build-up this offseason, Crochet said, “I would say about a month and half ago is when I felt like I could really let it eat.”
Kopech tried to mimic his rehab rampup throwing program to remain sharp ahead of camp.
“I’ve been building up for a while and my arm feels about where it should be right now,” he said. “The ball is coming out easy and I’m ready to continue and hopefully compete.”
Kopech said his teammates welcomed him with “open arms” when he returned. And he said the team has been helpful getting him ready for the season.
“I felt pretty comfortable out there and I feel like I’m in a good position where I should be to go into the season,” Kopech said. “I’m excited about baseball. I’m excited about things that are happening in my personal life and I’m excited about being able to help this team win.”