Michael Kopech‘s pitching skills are well known by most White Sox fans. But Kopech pulled a serious athletic feat on Tuesday night in his latest start.
Check out this play by @MichaelKopech5. #KopechDay #SCtop10 pic.twitter.com/s2miAUuttT
— Charlotte Knights (@KnightsBaseball) August 1, 2018
In a one-run game with two men on Kopech dazzled the crowd in Charlotte with a no-look spinning stab on a comebacker that logged a very important out. These types of plays are rare and undeniably lucky. Here’s another prayer thrown up in self-defense on a line drive.
🚨 Web Gem Alert 🚨 J.T. Genovese with an unreal behind-the-back catch for @UAlbanyBaseball 👀 #AETopPlays #SCtop10 pic.twitter.com/6T0R6J26A0
— America East (@AmericaEast) April 23, 2017
And if that doesn’t knock your sox off, check this out this doozy from the Chinese baseball league.
That’s a serious bit of self-defense on a tracer lined right back up the shoot.
But down to the important stuff: Kopech went seven strong on Tuesday allowing two earned runs on four hits with eight punchouts. The Norfolk Tides laced two solo home runs off of Kopech, but it appears he maintained his composure and went deep into the game.
Michael Kopech's last 4 starts for Triple-A Charlotte: 24 IP, 19 H, 6 ER, 4 BB, 32 K,
— Scott Merkin (@scottmerkin) August 1, 2018
…that’s a 2.25 earned run average over that span.
Despite my unbridled optimism that the White Sox would call him up last Friday, Kopech continues to demonstrate poise. Command of his secondary pitches may be what is holding him down (that final box that hasn’t been checked), but he has rebounded from a slew of ghastly outings and appears to be rolling once again.
His earned run average is down to 4.15 and he has posted a 3.33 ERA in July with a 0.96 WHIP over his last four games. The short story is: it’s all falling into place.
Add stupendous plays like the no-look twirl he pulled tonight and it’s one less box he has to check.
