Top White Sox MiLB moments of 2018: Michael Kopech's last minor league start

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With the White Sox season over, we're looking back on the top 10 moments of the club's minor league season. We'll unveil one per day for 10 days, showcasing each moment in chronological order.

The moment: Michael Kopech strikes out nine and doesn't walk any batters in six innings of one-run ball, Aug. 16.

Michael Kopech had an up-and-down season in Triple-A, but he sure ended on a high note to earn his call-up. His final seven starts for the Charlotte Knights were absolutely dominant and the last start in this stretch was no exception.

Kopech struck out nine in six innings against Louisville. He had no walks and only gave up one run. Kopech's last three starts for the Knights all featured nine strikeouts and no walks.

When Kopech got called up, multiple members of the White Sox front office referenced his string of seven starts as a big reason why they called him up and thought he was ready. In that stretch Kopech had a 1.84 ERA with 59 strikeouts and four walks over 44 innings.

The consistency was there, too. Kopech didn't allow more than two runs in any outing.

Kopech's season: Excitement about Kopech reached its zenith during this stretch and then when he got called up, but it wasn't always smooth sailing in 2018.

He began the season well enough, with a 2.67 ERA through five starts. However, control issues remained and eventually led to his ERA ballooning to 5.20 after a June 14 start in which he walked eight batters in three-plus innings.

Once Kopech found his groove, he looked like one of the premier pitching prospects in all of baseball.

In the majors, Kopech created a buzz around the White Sox that hadn't been seen in some time. However, three of his four starts with the White Sox featured rain delays (all at home) and he got rocked in his last outing against Detroit.

In his final outing of 2018, Kopech's fastball velocity was down and he gave up four home runs. It turned out Kopech suffered a torn UCL and required Tommy John surgery.

One of the key pieces of the White Sox rebuild flashed his potential to fans briefly. Now, he won't return until 2020.

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