Kopech struck out one over a scoreless inning in Tuesday's spring game against San Diego.

EDGE Analysis

Kopech made his first appearance in a game in nearly a year, March 10 of 2020. Seven of his nine pitches were for strikes, and his fastball clocked in between 97 and 99 MPH, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports. The flame-throwing prospect will pitch out of the bullpen to start the season, but he could eventually move into the rotation.

Kopech will make his spring debut Tuesday against the Padres, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Kopech will follow starter Lance Lynn, so he'll get to see the best San Diego has to offer. It's unknown whether he'll pitch more than one inning Tuesday, but he's expected serve a multi-inning bullpen role to start the 2021 season. "He's going to have to work hard to control his emotions and maintain his concentration," manager Tony La Russa said. "If he slips here or there, he's just human. But the fact he's going out there healthy and has worked hard to keep his delivery consistent makes us very excited to watch him." Kopech, who missed the entire 2019 season due to elbow surgery and opted out of 2020, has thrown just one inning (in March of last year) since September 2018. The White Sox plan to manage his innings but have not ruled out using him as a starter in 2021.

Kopech will be used in a multi-inning relief role to start the season, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Kopech has long been thought to have some relief risk, as fireballers with shaky command often wind up in the bullpen, especially if they have a history of injuries. He'll pitch in a relief role to start the year, but that appears to be primarily a way of managing his innings after Tommy John surgery cost him all of 2019 and an opt out took away his 2020 season. The fact that he'll be used in a multi-inning role seemingly indicates that the White Sox want him to be ready to start games at some point down the line this year, though a clear plan has not yet been provided by the team. Given his potential strikeout prowess, Kopech could still provide a fair amount of fantasy value in a multi-inning relief role.

Kopech will begin the year in the bullpen, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Kopech's profile is the sort that always carries with it a bit of relief risk, as he has big stuff but shaky command and a history of injuries. That doesn't appear to be what's happening here, though, as the move can be easily explained as an effort to manage the young righty's innings. He hasn't pitched in a game in over two years, as he missed 2019 while recovering from Tommy John surgery before opting out of the 2020 season. He was never going to be able to last the full year in the rotation, so the White Sox will simply start him in the pen rather than moving him there over the summer. He could still provide a bit of fantasy value as a reliever, but his value will ultimately be determined in large part by when he gets the chance to start, and the White Sox have yet to make clear when that will happen. Carlos Rodon looks like the favorite to win the fifth starter job with Kopech out of the picture.

White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said Kopech could be used as a reliever, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Kopech opted to sit out the 2020 season and hasn't thrown in a game since a one-inning stint in spring training last March, just before MLB was shut down. Prior to that, he missed several months following Tommy John elbow surgery in 2018. As such, Hahn, who describes Kopech as a long-term starter, mentioned the possibility of a bullpen role as a way to manage his innings and preserve him for a September/October run. The White Sox have no shortage of rotation candidates, so it's not vital for Kopech to work as a starter from the get-go in 2021.

The White Sox plan to have Kopech compete for a spot in the big-league rotation during spring training, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

Kopech hasn't pitched for the White Sox since Sept. 5, 2018, as he spent the entire 2019 rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, then opted out of the 2020 season for personal reasons. White Sox general manager Rick Hahn confirmed in the fall that Kopech was ready to resume his career this spring, and the White Sox seemingly have big plans for the 24-year-old, who is still regarded as one of the top pitching prospects in baseball. Morosi notes that Kopech will be subject to an innings limit in 2021, but if the right-hander is able to quickly rediscover his pre-surgery form, he could be a premium source for strikeouts on a per-start basis.

General manager Rick Hahn said Monday that Kopech, who opted out of the 2020 season, has remained in touch with his minor-league pitching coaches and is "fully invested and committed" to rejoining the team in spring training, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Aside from some Cactus League outings this past spring, Kopech hasn't made a regular-season appearance in affiliated ball since September 2018. He was sidelined for all of 2019 while on the mend from Tommy John surgery before informing the White Sox in July that he would sit out the 2020 campaign amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The lack of action over the past two years means the 24-year-old won't be a lock to crack the White Sox's Opening Day rotation in 2021, but if he's able to regain his pre-surgery velocity and command, Kopech likely won't have to wait long to get another look with the big club. Chicago is expected to formally reinstate Kopech from the restricted list and add him back to the 40-man roster at some point later in the offseason.

The White Sox placed Kopech (personal) on the restricted list July 10.

EDGE Analysis

The transaction was just a procedural move after Kopech confirmed earlier that day that he would opt out of the 2020 season. While at home for the next several months, Kopech will complete his rehab from his September 2018 Tommy John surgery before reporting to spring training at full health in 2021 with an eye on claiming a rotation spot.

Kopech (personal) opted out of playing during the 2020 season Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Kopech underwent Tommy John surgery in September of 2018 and had fully recovered, but he'll elect not to play in 2020 in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. General manager Rick Hahn emphasized the team's support of the right-hander's decision. "We will work with Michael to assure his development continues throughout 2020, and we look forward to welcoming him back into our clubhouse for the 2021 season," Hahn said.

White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said he has no timeline for Kopech's return from a personal matter, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

To alleviate any concern, the general manager stressed that Kopech, who is returning from Tommy John elbow surgery, is healthy. ''I do not have a timeline for his return, and given the personal nature of the matter he's tending to, I won't provide updates until we know the actual plan for Michael going forward,'' Hahn said. Van Schouwen added that the absence has the look of something that could keep Kopech away for a while.