3 prospects the Chicago White Sox could trade for Blake Snell
RHP. 128. Michael Kopech. 1. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. MLB
Kopech was a prominent piece of the return for the White Sox in the December 2016 trade that sent Chris Sale to the Red Sox. Tommy John surgery in September of 2018 cost him the entire 2019 campaign. After missing summer camp ramp-up last season due to what was deemed a personal matter, he opted out of the shortened season.
So Kopech was last seen healthy on a competitive mound in 2018. He had a 3.70 ERA and a 12.1 K/9 over 24 starts in Triple-A that season, then he posted good K/9 (9.4) and BB/9 (1.3) rates over four major league starts (with a 5.04 ERA) before elbow trouble.
Through it all recently, MLB.com still has Kopech ranked as a top-20 prospect in all of baseball (No. 18). That points to his lingering potential, still shy of his 25th birthday, and whatever was going on last season seems to be behind him. If nothing else, there should be no lingering concerns about his elbow with the extra time off.
Michael Kopech has been in touch with minor league pitching coaches, "fully invested and committed" for 2021, Hahn said.
— Daryl Van Schouwen (@CST_soxvan) October 12, 2020
As mentioned with Dunning, the White Sox have a surplus of young pitching they could deal from for a piece to push them higher in 2021. Cashing in on the potential and mystery of Kopech could be on the radar.
Other prospects the White Sox could trade for Blake Snell: RHP Matthew Thompson, RHP Jonathan Stiever, OF Micker Adolfo, RHP Andrew Dalquist, OF Luis Gonzalez
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