White Sox could make surprise addition to starting rotation

The Chicago White Sox starting rotation is dangerous enough without Michael Kopech.

Kopech, still one of the top pitching prospects in the White Sox system, hasn’t thrown in a live game since 2018 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He sat out last season due to personal reasons.

Nonetheless, Kopech was acquired as part of the package that sent Chris Sale to the Boston Red Sox. He can hit triple-figures when he’s right, and that’ll be the main point of Spring Training for the right-handed hurler.

MLB Network’s Jon Morosi reported that the White Sox are considering having Kopech start the season in their rotation, rather than his traditional bullpen role.

“The White Sox plan for RHP Michael Kopech to be built up as a starter this spring. He’s expected to open 2021 in the MLB rotation. Kopech, 24, will face an innings limit this year, as he hasn’t appeared in a regular season game since 2018,” Morosi said on Twitter.

The White Sox are a dangerous team in the AL Central

The Sox rotation already includes the likes of Lucas Giolito, Dallas Keuchel and Lance Lynn. Adding Kopech to the mix, even on an innings count, only makes their rotation more dangerous.

Morosi would go on to correct his report, stating that there’s no guarantee Kopech starts the season with the big league club. Such an assessment is obvious, especially given the long layoff for the 24-year-old.

In Kopech’s lone Spring Training appearance in 2020, six of his 11 pitches clocked in at over 100 MPH. This further proved that somehow, someway, the White Sox must employ such an x-factor on their pitching staff.

Tony La Russa has some big decisions to make entering his first season his charge, but he can’t afford to let Kopech fly under the radar.