Despite the flurry of media speculation and probing for the possibility of heralded Triple-A pitcher Michael Kopech to earn an early promotion, the flamethrowing right-hander was left in the minors this week…and it should stay that way. Two other White Sox prospects had big nights on Wednesday as the farm system continues to be a point of pride for an otherwise grim major-league season.
Kopech fired six frames of one-hit baseball, fanning eight and walking two on his way to a no-decision. After today’s outing, his season statistics are magnificent.
Michael Kopech this season at Charlotte (AAA):
4 starts, 2.14 ERA, 14 Hits, 7 BB, 29 K, 0 HR, 1.000 WHIP in 21.0 IP#WhiteSox— Christopher Kamka (@ckamka) April 25, 2018
Few would be surprised to hear Kopech dialed up 102 on the radar gun today, and fewer still would find his early success at Triple-A surprising. But there are at least three factors that will hold him in the minors longer than fans and prognosticators like to believe.
Michael Kopech up to 102 mph with the fastball today for Charlotte, per source. Command of CH wasn’t there; SL mid 80s with average command. #WhiteSox
— Alec Dopp (@AlecJDopp) April 25, 2018
Kopech’s development is less about success in the minors and more about polish. It doesn’t appear that Triple-A is challenging for him right now, and in fact, many analysts predicted that Kopech could’ve joined the big leagues in early 2017 and sat hitters down. The fact remains that he is still working on polishing his changeup and must demonstrate more efficiency in various scenarios (i.e. pitching to contact when he doesn’t have his best stuff).
Secondly, Kopech is going to struggle at some point, and it’s better to endure those tribulations in the minors where the lights are not so bright than face a gaggle of reporters after every start diagnosing your defects. After speaking with White Sox director of player development Chris Getz a few weeks ago he confirmed that it is important to reach certain milestones and benchmarks at each level. Kopech and Eloy Jimenez will live under a microscope for most of 2018, and while Jimenez is unlikely to make the big-league club at all in 2018, Kopech’s ascension is imminent but delayed.
But what will hold Kopech down longer is his innings. He reached 130 innings in 2017 and White Sox brass are acutely aware of overloading the youngster too quickly. Getz noted that he anticipates Kopech to throw the majority of his innings in Triple-A this season, an estimation that given Rick Hahn’s flair for the dramatics can be read in multiple ways.
High Octane Power In High-A
Micker Adolfo was once considered a gem in an otherwise tarnished farm-system, but he has boosted his standing among other elite prospects. After posting a career high in home runs in 2017 (16), Adolfo is in the midst of a thunderous encore. The White Sox No. 10 prospect smoked two home runs on Wednesday night in both ends of a doubleheader.
After picking up his 4th homer of the year in the first game of today's @WSDashBaseball doubleheader, Micker Adolfo has gone deep again in the nightcap.
No. 10 on the #WhiteSox Top 30: https://t.co/WZTfDO0qCK pic.twitter.com/WDb4RTFE3L— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) April 26, 2018
Adolfo is batting .324 with five home runs, 15 runs batted in and a .965 OPS.
#WhiteSox Micker Adolfo has impressive physicality/power potential. Hit two balls way out tonight, one to pull and one the other way. Plus strength in RH swing, though he's stiff and doesn't adjust the barrel well. How much he brings the power into games will determine profile.
— Adam McInturff (@2080adam) April 26, 2018
A Hitch In Collins’ Development
After Zack Collins was drafted by the White Sox in the first round of 2016, many believed he had the maturity and polish to jump into a big-league lineup immediately. This hasn’t changed much. Collins controls the strike zone extremely well and works deep counts consistently. However, pitchers have discovered they can exploit an exaggerated hitch in his swing and pound him just beneath his hands. Collins is disciplined enough to lay off those pitches but in certain counts, he has to defend that hole in his swing.
Scoreboard, meet baseball.
Baseball, meet scoreboard. @zackcollins0 takes aim at his own headshot on the scoreboard and hits a 💣 of a 2-run HR to cut the Pensacola lead to 9-8, Mid-8. pic.twitter.com/7G0G4eLf32— Birmingham Barons (@BhamBarons) April 26, 2018
The question with Collins has always been whether he will stay behind the dish or not. It’s a convenient excuse to say that he’s been focusing on his defensive deficiencies and that’s why his production at the plate has suffered, but this is a flimsy argument. Collins’ struggles are from his hitch, not his approach. But remember, this is only Collins second full season of professional baseball and he’s already in Double-A.
The young slugger is batting an embarrassing .098 and does not have a hit off of a left-handed pitcher in 2018. Still, don’t run to hit the panic button yet. The season is still young and Double-A is a critical benchmark for players to excel at. After Wednesday’s home run, Collins is five for his last 24. And while a .208 batting overage over the last eight games is nothing to gloat about, it’s an improvement nonetheless.
Small victories are part and parcel of minor-league development.
