White Sox move Michael Kopech to bullpen

(670 The Score) The White Sox have moved right-hander Michael Kopech to the bullpen, general manager Chris Getz told reporters Thursday.

The news came a day after the White Sox traded ace Dylan Cease to the Padres for four players, including three prospects who ranked among the top eight in San Diego’s system. Two of those three prospects were pitchers, and they also acquired reliever Steven Wilson, who has two years of MLB experience.

Kopech, 27, had been in the mix for a back-end rotation spot for the White Sox, but he had struggled to progress deeper in games in Cactus League action this spring. Kopech hadn’t logged more than 2 2/3 innings in any of his outings this spring, and he was hit hard Monday, when he allowed four runs, all earned, in 2 1/3 innings. Kopech has worked seven innings this spring, allowing seven runs, six earned on six hits while walking six.

Kopech's lack of command was a primary reason the White Sox decided to move him to the bullpen, Getz told reporters.

"When you look at the front part of the game and the back part of the game, obviously attacking the zone is important regardless of where you're pitching," Getz said, according to CHGO . "When you're trying to navigate the early innings and your pitch count is raised — and although you're getting some outs — you're also perhaps getting some walks and just really raising a workload. that we felt like we were going to run the risk of perhaps overtaxing our bullpen and the remainder of our pitching staff. So we were looking to find some starters who could be more efficient on the front end to help navigate a season."

Kopech’s new role represents another disappointing marking point in his White Sox tenure. Acquired from the Red Sox in a trade in December 2016, he was once thought to have top-of-the-rotation potential, but he has never fulfilled it. Kopech has a 4.33 ERA in 103 appearances, including 60 starts, across four seasons in Chicago. He struggled mightily in 2023, posting a 5.43 ERA and 1.59 WHIP in 30 appearances, including 27 starts.