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  6. article_body => "<p>Michael Kopech\u2019s injury late in the 2018 season was a setback for the White Sox rebuild.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Players make full recoveries from Tommy John surgery all the time now, but there always remains a risk that they don\u2019t. That\u2019s why Kopech\u2019s debut in instructional league ball on Thursday was such a big deal.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">According to FanGraphs\u2019 Eric Longenhagen, Kopech still has that upper 90s velocity that was part of his enticing arsenal.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">96-100, slider 84-88, late bite, plus. One Curveball at 78mph. Cmmd\/ctrl rusty.<\/p>&mdash; Eric Longenhagen (@longenhagen) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/longenhagen\/status\/1179852152853823488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 3, 2019<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<br \/>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Rusty command isn\u2019t a surprise for someone who hasn\u2019t pitched in over a year. That rustiness may remain for a while, but the fact that Kopech\u2019s elite stuff appears unharmed by the surgery&nbsp;is a good sign.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Here\u2019s some video of Kopech pitching in Arizona, courtesy of Baseball Prospectus\u2019 Steve Givarz.<\/p>\n<p><blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Here he is striking out Bobby Witt Jr on a Slider. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/g4t9kn5MaM\">pic.twitter.com\/g4t9kn5MaM<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Steve Givarz (@SteveGivarz) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SteveGivarz\/status\/1179845474766835712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 3, 2019<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<br \/>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Givarz reported that Kopech threw nearly 30 pitches and hit 100 multiple times. Kopech said that the surgery was the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/chicago\/white-sox\/michael-kopech-ready-2020-tommy-john-has-been-best-thing-ever-happen-me\" target=\"_blank\">\"best thing to ever happen\" to him<\/a>. Seeing him pitch like this starts to back up that claim.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Kopech was the top pitching prospect in the White Sox system when he made his MLB debut on Aug. 21, 2018. He endured two rain-shortened starts in his first three outings.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Kopech then pitched through the rain in his fourth start, in which he got hammered for seven runs in 3 1\/3 innings against the Tigers. His velocity was down and he gave up four home runs. After that fourth start, it was revealed Kopech would need Tommy John surgery.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">As the White Sox enter 2020 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/chicago\/white-sox\/eyes-offseason-and-2020-white-sox-advancing-next-stage-rebuild\" target=\"_blank\">hoping to look like a contending team<\/a> for the first time in years, a healthy, fully-operational Kopech would be a huge boost to the team. If Kopech is throwing upper 90s consistently in October, there\u2019s a good chance he could be good to go to break camp with the White Sox on Opening Day.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><em><a href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/2OmHoHH\">Click here<\/a> to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/chicago\/white-sox\">White Sox<\/a> easily on your device.<\/em> \n"
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White Sox

Michael Kopech’s injury late in the 2018 season was a setback for the White Sox rebuild.

Players make full recoveries from Tommy John surgery all the time now, but there always remains a risk that they don’t. That’s why Kopech’s debut in instructional league ball on Thursday was such a big deal.

According to FanGraphs’ Eric Longenhagen, Kopech still has that upper 90s velocity that was part of his enticing arsenal.


Rusty command isn’t a surprise for someone who hasn’t pitched in over a year. That rustiness may remain for a while, but the fact that Kopech’s elite stuff appears unharmed by the surgery is a good sign.

Here’s some video of Kopech pitching in Arizona, courtesy of Baseball Prospectus’ Steve Givarz.


Givarz reported that Kopech threw nearly 30 pitches and hit 100 multiple times. Kopech said that the surgery was the "best thing to ever happen" to him. Seeing him pitch like this starts to back up that claim.

Kopech was the top pitching prospect in the White Sox system when he made his MLB debut on Aug. 21, 2018. He endured two rain-shortened starts in his first three outings.

Kopech then pitched through the rain in his fourth start, in which he got hammered for seven runs in 3 1/3 innings against the Tigers. His velocity was down and he gave up four home runs. After that fourth start, it was revealed Kopech would need Tommy John surgery.

As the White Sox enter 2020 hoping to look like a contending team for the first time in years, a healthy, fully-operational Kopech would be a huge boost to the team. If Kopech is throwing upper 90s consistently in October, there’s a good chance he could be good to go to break camp with the White Sox on Opening Day.

 

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