In a season that has been one to forget, the White Sox have given their fans something to get excited about: MICHAEL KOPECH. Yes, THAT Michael Kopech. The jacked, 100-MPH-fastball-throwing pitcher of the White Sox farm system who looks like Hercules.
Images: For The Win and kisspng
The 6’3” 205-pound right-handed flamethrower will be making his major league debut when he takes the mound against the somehow-in-second-place Minnesota Twins tomorrow night at Guaranteed Rate Field. What did we do to deserve this? I don’t know. We’re not worthy. But we Sox fans will take it.
Image: GIPHY
To rewind, Kopech came over with Sox second baseman Yoan Moncada as part of the blockbuster trade that sent Chris Sale to the Red Sox (a big “you’re welcome” to my fellow Branded teammate Nick Williams). He’s widely seen as the next White Sox pitching ace and a building block to the brick house that will be your future 2020 World Series Champions – there, I said it. It’s gonna happen.
Kopech is also the 13th-ranked prospect on the MLB Top 100 list and and the 2nd-ranked prospect in the White Sox organization behind the powerful Eloy Jimenez.
The Mount Pleasant, Texas native has spent this season at the Sox AAA-affiliate Charlotte Knights where he posted a 3.70 ERA, 170 strike outs and a .219 batting average against across 126.1 innings pitched.
While the ERA is a tad higher than you’d like to see, may I remind you that he has 170 STRIKE OUTS – that leads the minor leagues and is some baseball-God shit. And I’d like to add, he hasn’t allowed more than two runs in a start since July 5 (thanks for that stat, MiLB Twitter).
Kopech can’t save the season at this point, but he can give us a glimpse to the future one 100-mph fastball at a time.
Special thanks to White Sox GM Rick Hahn for this early Christmas gift. In the meantime, watch this highlight reel of Hercules himself to get fired up for tomorrow’s game.
Happy #KopechDay everyone!
#ForTheBrand
Follow me on Twitter @ekurbyun on Tuesday night to see what I’m saying about #KopechDay. Oh, and Instagram too @ekurbyun.
Featured Image: Chicago Informer