Michael Kopech Bio
Michael Talbert Kopech is an American professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago White Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Selected by the Boston Red Sox in the first round of the 2014 MLB draft, Kopech made his MLB debut in 2018 with the White Sox. He was traded to the Dodgers at the 2024 trade deadline and won the World Series that same year, cementing his place among the game’s top young arms during his prime years.
Known for his elite velocity and a fastball that has reached historic radar readings, Kopech has built a reputation as one of the hardest throwers in baseball. Beyond his on-field accomplishments, his career has also featured Tommy John surgery, a shift from starting to relieving, and a high-profile personal life, all of which have shaped his journey in the major leagues.
Early Life and Background
Michael Talbert Kopech was born on April 30, 1996, in Mount Pleasant, Texas. He grew up in the same East Texas community where he later attended Mount Pleasant High School, developing his game in a region known for producing hard-throwing pitchers. During his high school years, Kopech built a baseball rivalry and an eventual friendship with fellow athlete Patrick Mahomes, a connection that has been highlighted in both of their career stories.
As a senior, Kopech posted a 3–0 win–loss record with a 0.44 earned run average (ERA) in 11 games for Mount Pleasant, striking out 129 batters and issuing only 18 walks over 64 innings pitched. His dominant senior season earned him 2014 Perfect Game First-Team All-American honors, making him one of the most sought-after pitching prospects in the country. After high school, he committed to attend the University of Arizona before being selected professionally.
Path to Baseball
Kopech’s path to professional baseball accelerated when the Boston Red Sox selected him in the first round, 33rd overall, of the 2014 MLB draft. He received a $1.6 million signing bonus and began his pro career that summer with the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Red Sox. In eight starts, he posted a 0–1 record with a 4.61 ERA, recording 16 strikeouts against nine walks in 13 and one-third innings, providing an early glimpse of his strikeout ability.
In 2015, Kopech pitched for the Greenville Drive of the Single-A South Atlantic League, going 4–5 with a 2.63 ERA in 15 games while earning a spot in the SAL All-Star Game. On July 16, 2015, he received a 50-game suspension without pay after testing positive for Oxilofrine, a banned substance under the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. He returned in 2016 with the Lowell Spinners and Salem Red Sox, posting a combined 4–1 record and 2.08 ERA across two levels, which established him as one of the top pitching prospects in the minors.
Michael Kopech Career
Early Career (2014–2017)
Kopech continued climbing the minor-league ladder in 2017 with the Double-A Birmingham Barons of the Southern League, where he was named the starter for the North Division in the Southern League All-Star Game. He later represented the United States in the 2017 All-Star Futures Game and was promoted to the Triple-A Charlotte Knights on August 18, 2017, after posting a 2.87 ERA with 155 strikeouts across 119 and one-third innings.
On December 6, 2016, the Red Sox traded Kopech, Yoán Moncada, Luis Alexander Basabe, and Victor Diaz to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for Chris Sale, a deal that signaled the start of a new chapter for the young pitcher. During an offseason workout on January 17, 2017, Kopech reportedly threw a pitch unofficially clocked at 110 miles per hour with a 3-ounce ball, a moment that cemented his reputation as one of the hardest throwers in professional baseball history.
MLB Debut and White Sox Years (2018–2024)
The White Sox promoted Kopech to the major leagues on August 21, 2018, and he made his debut that day against the Minnesota Twins. He recorded his first MLB strikeout against Miguel Sanó and struck out four batters without allowing a run in two innings before rain ended his outing. Ranked as the 13th-best prospect in all of MLB at the time of his debut, Kopech finished 2018 with a 1–1 record and 5.02 ERA in four starts before undergoing Tommy John surgery on September 18, which kept him out for the remainder of 2018 and all of 2019.
Kopech returned to action in 2020 and was moved to the bullpen by the White Sox for 2021 to manage his workload. He appeared in 44 games with four starts, going 4–3 with a 3.50 ERA and 103 strikeouts in 69 and one-third innings. In the 2021 postseason, he picked up his first career playoff win in Game 3 of the American League Division Series against the Houston Astros.
In 2022, Kopech returned to the starting rotation and made 25 starts, going 5–9 with a 3.54 ERA, 105 strikeouts, and 57 walks in 119 and one-third innings. He led the major leagues with the highest walk percentage at 11.5%. In 2023, he agreed to a one-year, $2.05 million contract with the White Sox on January 13, avoiding salary arbitration, but struggled to a 5–12 record and 5.43 ERA in 30 games before undergoing season-ending surgery on September 22 to remove a cyst from his right knee.
Los Angeles Dodgers Era (2024–2025)
On July 29, 2024, the White Sox traded Kopech to the Los Angeles Dodgers as part of a three-team deal. In 24 regular-season games for the Dodgers, he posted a 4–0 record with a 1.13 ERA, 29 strikeouts, and six saves in 24 innings, immediately giving Los Angeles a dominant late-inning arm. On July 10, 2024, he became the second White Sox pitcher to throw an immaculate inning and the first since Sloppy Thurston in 1923, recording a save against the Twins.
Kopech continued to excel in the 2024 postseason, pitching three and one-third scoreless innings in four of the five games of the NLDS. In the NLCS, he picked up a win in Game 3 and started the clinching Game 6 as an opener. In the 2024 World Series, he allowed two runs on three hits in three and two-thirds innings over four games, helping the Dodgers win the championship. He dealt with arm inflammation in the 2024–25 offseason, began 2025 on the injured list, underwent meniscus surgery in July, and finished the year with 14 games pitched before becoming a free agent.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Kopech’s signature achievements is his immaculate inning on July 10, 2024, joining Sloppy Thurston as the only White Sox pitchers to accomplish the feat since 1923. He also played a key relief role in the Dodgers’ 2024 World Series championship run, appearing in four games of the Fall Classic and contributing across multiple postseason series. His career has been defined by record-setting velocity, including an unofficially timed 110 mph pitch during a 2017 offseason workout.
Michael Kopech Career Wins
Michael Kopech’s MLB career has featured steady contributions across both the White Sox and Dodgers organizations. From his debut in 2018 through the 2025 season, he has combined for 21 wins against 33 losses, a 4.14 ERA, and 457 strikeouts, per official MLB statistics.
MLB Highlights
Kopech earned his first career postseason win in Game 3 of the 2021 ALDS against the Houston Astros. With the Dodgers in 2024, he went 4–0 with a 1.13 ERA in the regular season and added a win in the NLCS, helping Los Angeles clinch a World Series title that fall.
Other Performances
At the minor-league level, Kopech was a Southern League All-Star in 2017 and represented the United States in the All-Star Futures Game, striking out teammate Yoán Moncada. He was also named the Carolina League Player of the Month for August 2016 after striking out 82 hitters in the month, the most for any pitcher in MiLB that August.
Michael Kopech Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Michael Kopech’s personal life has drawn public interest, particularly his high-profile marriage and family milestones. In 2019, he announced his engagement to Canadian actress Vanessa Morgan, and the couple married in January 2020 before Kopech filed for divorce in June 2020. Morgan gave birth to their son in January 2021.
In May 2022, Kopech took a brief paternity leave from the White Sox for the birth of his second child with fitness instructor Morgan Eudy, who also has a daughter from a previous relationship. As of August 2023, Kopech and Eudy were engaged and expecting their second child together. Kopech is divorced.
2025 Season Performance
Michael Kopech’s 2025 season with the Los Angeles Dodgers was limited by injuries. After dealing with arm inflammation in the offseason, he began the year on the injured list and was transferred to the 60-day injured list on May 1. He rejoined the Dodgers on June 7 and posted eight scoreless appearances, striking out eight batters across seven innings of work, showing flashes of his mid-90s velocity.
On July 9, it was announced that he had undergone surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee, sending him back to the 60-day injured list. He returned again on September 1 but was placed back on the injured list on September 19 with right knee inflammation, ending his season. He appeared in only 14 games and struggled with his command, walking 13 batters in 11 innings while allowing three runs, making health the defining theme of his 2025 campaign. Following the season, Kopech became a free agent, opening the next chapter of his career heading into 2026.
