Meet the Prospects: Michael Kopech

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The White Sox rebuild is in full swing. While it might still be a year or two before the big league team is expected to start competing for championships, the minor leagues are stocked with highly touted talent fans will be eagerly following in 2018. With that in mind, it's time to Meet the Prospects and get to know the future of the South Side.

Michael Kopech

Kopech, the 21-year-old right-handed hurler, was one of the two big pieces acquired in last offseason's trade that sent Chris Sale to the Boston Red Sox. And the White Sox are hoping they have their next Sale in Kopech, who at one point last season was baseball's top-ranked pitching prospect.

A Texas native, Kopech was the Southern League Most Outstanding Pitcher after he finished with a 3.39 ERA and 155 strikeouts in 119.1 innings over 22 starts with the Birmingham Barons. After a promotion to Triple-A Charlotte, he allowed five runs and struck out 17 hitters in 15 innings in three more starts there.

There is perhaps more excitement about the 2014 first-rounder than any other member of this rebuilding effort, and the expectations are sky high, not just for fans but Kopech and those around him, too. He said right before this weekend's SoxFest festivities that he already feels ready for the big leagues.

Our NBC Sports Chicago cameras went to Texas and spent three days with Kopech as he went through his offseason training. This is a must-watch piece on a guy who could soon be the White Sox ace.

As of their most recent rankings, MLB Pipeline had Kopech rated as the No. 2 prospect in the White Sox organization.

Get to know Kopech in the video above.

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