On Friday, the White Sox announced that their top pitching prospect Michael Kopech would not be playing in the 2020 season, deciding to sit out because of personal reasons. Kopech, who hasn’t pitched in the majors since Sept. 5, 2018, and underwent Tommy John surgery, reportedly decided to sit this year out because of a few factors.
Joel Sherman and James Fegan reported on Friday that one main reason was concerns of the shortened ramp up period possibly leading to re-injury for Kopech or the righty simply not having time to prepare adequately.
Before any reasons were reported there was a ton of speculation among White Sox fans trying to figure out why Kopech decided to skip the 2020 season and concerns over his mental health were brought up. Kopech, 24, has been open about dealing with anxiety and depression in the past and that prompted the following comments from White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper.
Via the Chicago Sun-Times.
“Last time I saw him in spring training, he was in a great place,” Cooper said. “But let me put it this way: I sure hope the kid is OK.
“I’m concerned that he’s not OK.”
I know there’s been some backlash for Cooper because it doesn’t seem right to speculate on a guy’s mental health to the media when you haven’t heard directly from Kopech. And even if Kopech had talked to Cooper about it, it’s safe to say that it probably should be kept private. Yet, I don’t think Cooper said any of this out of malice, right? There’s no way. That’d be such a dickhead move out of him.
Nevertheless, it sounds like Cooper got a talking to by the White Sox, as Fegan had a few more details Monday morning about Kopech, making it clear that the pitcher’s mental health wasn’t a factor in his decision not to play in 2020. According to Fegan, Kopech had a meeting with Jerry Reinsdorf, Rick Hahn, and a call with manager Rick Renteria.
Via The Athletic.
Sources close to Kopech indicate he was driven by a litany of concerns, not limited to a short ramp-up to action, an uncertain role, uncertainty over the fate of the 2020 season, caution in determining how and when to best return to action from Tommy John surgery, and despite not being medically deemed high-risk himself, concern over how playing amid the pandemic could threaten the health of those close to him.
Fegan also added this about Cooper’s comments from Sunday.
Multiple sources indicate that both Kopech’s camp and the Sox organization said not to associate Kopech’s mental health with his decision to sit out the season.
Going forward, the White Sox will seek to avoid speculating on Kopech’s decision as an organization and multiple sources indicate that Cooper’s comments were addressed internally.
So, the next time you hear something about Kopech’s decision coming from the White Sox it’ll be from Kopech himself. Not that he owes any further explanation.
