Michael Kopech, RHP: 2014 MLB Draft 33th Overall

Plympton91

bubble burster
SoSH Member
Oct 19, 2008
12,408
If he'd gone to colleg, he wouldn't even be eligible for the draft until next year. If he only misses two months, he'll get 100 innings again, which is fine. If anything, these abbreviated seasons may help keeping his elbow and shoulder healthier going forward.
 

keninten

New Member
Nov 24, 2005
588
Tennessee
■ On Monday, Michael Kopech threw in his first game since undergoing surgery to repair a broken bone in his hand he suffered in a spring training fight with a teammate. He pitched two innings in an extended spring training game in Port Charlotte, Fla., against Rays minor leaguers.

According to one observer, Kopech allowed one hit and no runs in two innings, striking out three. His fastball velocity topped out at 99 m.p.h.

Kopech, one of the Sox’ top starting pitching prospects, could join a minor league affiliate in June after missing almost a season’s worth of games, first because of a 50-game suspension for a positive test for a banned amphetamine while with the Single A Greenville Drive last season, and then because of the off-field injury this spring.

Kopech went 4-5 with a 2.63 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 65 innings for Greenville last year.

From Alex Speier
 

Pilgrim

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 24, 2006
2,406
Jamaica Plain
Does anyone know what the 5th pitch that he throws at 1:52 is? Is that his changeup, because it drops directly down like a rock. I'm very curious, because his CH i supposed to be his 3rd pitch, but that looks filthy.

He clearly throws a slider for the third pitch, but its hard to compare, because that one was in a weird spot.
 

cmurphycode

Member
SoSH Member
Feb 9, 2009
1,305
Does anyone know what the 5th pitch that he throws at 1:52 is? Is that his changeup, because it drops directly down like a rock. I'm very curious, because his CH i supposed to be his 3rd pitch, but that looks filthy.

He clearly throws a slider for the third pitch, but its hard to compare, because that one was in a weird spot.
Pitch at 1:52 was a slider.

Second to last pitch to final batter was a change up. Bad called strike IMO.
 

DJnVa

Dorito Dawg
SoSH Member
Dec 16, 2010
53,850
You responded to SJH's post by linking the same article already linked. There's not "multiple sources", it's all the Salem manager saying they had 2 guns.

“We did have a reading of 105. We double-checked. Another gun beside ours had 105 as well,” Salem manager Joe Oliver said.
 

Cesar Crespo

79
SoSH Member
Dec 22, 2002
21,588
In terms of raw talent, might Kopech be the rough equivalent of Espinoza?
Coming into this year, Kopech's ceiling was considered a 2-3. So I'd say no, but probably depends on how you define raw talent. With all other things being equal, i'll take the guy throwing 105 over 100, but the other things aren't equal.
 

ElcaballitoMVP

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 19, 2008
3,932
In terms of raw talent, might Kopech be the rough equivalent of Espinoza?
He's close, but not quite on par. The biggest difference being their secondary offerings. Espinoza's were very advanced for his age, whereas Kopech needs to continue to work on his slider and change. Espinoza also showed better command and control of all of his pitches.

In terms of raw stuff, his fastball is a tick above Espinoza's, but he needs to command the pitch better from what I understand. His slider has the potential to be a plus pitch, but needs refinement. If he develops, he could be a front line starter. Worst case he ends up as a dominant bullpen arm. He's improving, and I think that made the Sox feel a little better about giving up Espinoza, but both guys still have a ways to go.
 

Cumberland Blues

Moderator
Moderator
SoSH Member
Sep 9, 2001
5,193
Given the number of swings & misses he's getting (game logs say all but 3 K's are of the swinging variety) I would call it Swish Cheese.
 

Papelbon's Poutine

Homeland Security
SoSH Member
Dec 4, 2005
19,615
Portsmouth, NH
That's a nice stat, I just wouldn't expect 18 yos to have ever seen triple digits before. Even if it was straight as an arrow I'd imagine most couldn't catch up to it, especially on first sight. The majors would be a different story though.
 

bellowthecat

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 18, 2010
589
Massachusetts
Kopech is a very interesting case. He's the youngest pitcher in the Carolina league and dominated so far. Only threw 65 innings last year and seems unlikely to surpass that number this year due to his late start. If he'd been doing what he's doing all summer I could see him getting a couple of starts with Portland towards the end of the year, but he's only got 14 innings with Salem so it seems like a long shot. I reckon he's a prime candidate for the AFL to test him against some better competition and continue to build up innings.
 

O Captain! My Captain!

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 3, 2009
3,532
That video from the Globe article is nice. It seems like he's simplified his delivery quite a bit since he was drafted; I remember it having kind of a Kevin Brown funkiness to it in high school.
 

SouthernBoSox

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 23, 2005
12,085
I'd just start him in AA next year. Not really any benefit to moving him right now. He isn't starting at AAA next year.
 

Fishy1

Head Mason
SoSH Member
Nov 10, 2006
5,872
A good start last night, but he's walked 20 guys in 32 innings. I think he's got to show some consistency and control before he sees a promotion.
 

Apisith

Member
SoSH Member
Oct 19, 2007
3,208
Bangkok
A good start last night, but he's walked 20 guys in 32 innings. I think he's got to show some consistency and control before he sees a promotion.
His stuff is too good. It's like Owens in AAA; his stuff is too good that his lack of control isn't really a problem. He needs a promotion to a level where hitters can punish him for his wildness.
 

JimD

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 29, 2001
8,681
TINSTAAPP and all, but it's impossible not to be incredibly excited about Kopech right now. I know SoxProspects had him as 'number three starter potential' at the the beginning of the season but it seems that Kopech's status has grown since then, no?
 

Detts

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jul 20, 2005
5,165
Greenville, SC
We'll find out a lot more about him this year in Portland. He can't just rely on his fastball any more.

Dombrowski loves power pitching. He has to be drooling over Kopech's potential.
 

Snodgrass'Muff

oppresses WARmongers
SoSH Member
Mar 11, 2008
27,644
Roanoke, VA
The BA top 10 podcast for the Red Sox talked about Kopech quite a bit. They still think he's more likely to end up in the pen than the rotation, but they had his floor at late inning power reliever. They think he'll at least be a weapon for the end of games.

If that's the worst case scenario, I think we'd all take it.