‘All of his stuff has been very sharp’: Chicago White Sox starter Michael Kopech sees benefit of changeup work

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Starter Michael Kopech had just wrapped up a bullpen session at Camelback Ranch.

Catcher Yasmani Grandal told him in a video posted on the Chicago White Sox Twitter page, “What I saw was a more complete pitcher. Not just a one-trick pony. From last year to this year, there’s been a ton of growth.”

Kopech, 26, is working on using that growth to help the Sox in 2023.

“I feel like I’m building on a lot of the last two years,” the right-hander said Friday. “(I) learned a lot from my stint last year as a starter (after spending most of 2021 as a reliever), learned how to pitch a little bit more, learned how to be a little bit more of a complete pitcher.

“The goal is just for me to go out there and be able to use everything I have and not have to rely on one thing or put something in my back pocket. Just be able to use the weapons I have to compete with that day. Kind of built off of that. Hopefully continue to keep building.”

Kopech threw his first live bullpen of the spring Thursday and described it as “decent.”

“There were some things I can improve on,” Kopech said. “The first one, though, I’m happy with it. (The) changeup has been something I’ve worked on all offseason and felt comfortable throwing it. Commanding my fastball for the most part, pulled off a couple, missed a couple of spots.

“But (I’m) kind of getting in the swing of being full go. I think that’s fairly normal. The rust will get knocked off the more I compete against hitters. In general, I felt really good, really confident.”

Part of the conversation in the video centered on Kopech’s changeup.

“He’s just worked really hard on it,” Sox pitching coach Ethan Katz said Friday. “It was something last year that was really good in bullpens and then come game time, even with his strengths, he’d sprinkled it in here and there.

“But the time he spent this offseason has really showed up in his bullpens with his command of it and how he’s throwing it. He threw it (Thursday) in live BP and got a swing and miss right-on-right, so he’s feeling pretty good about it. But all of his stuff has been very sharp.”

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Kopech said of the pitch: “I do think it’s important for me. I don’t think it’s the most important. I’ve been able to pitch and compete well with two breaking balls and a fastball. So I was never just a two-pitch guy. I’ve always been a three-pitch guy but having a four-pitch mix could make the game a little bit easier for me, which is always the goal.

“It’s just me getting comfortable with it to have timing. My timing has been hit or miss with it in the past and kind of getting it out front and letting it work on its own has been a big difference maker for it.”

Kopech is aiming for more innings after going 5-9 with a 3.54 ERA in 25 starts (119⅓ innings) in 2022. He underwent surgery in late September to address what the team called an “issue with (his right) meniscus.”

Kopech, 26, said the next step is another live bullpen or two.

“I’m right where I need to be,” he said.

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Katz said the Sox have brought Kopech along this spring “just to make sure that we are not pushing him too hard. Surgery was a little bit more than we originally thought, and just kind of making sure that with that he’s fully healthy come (the) season.”

Kopech said he feels “pretty good in general.”

“I’m still getting back to getting my legs under me, getting quote-unquote fast again and moving efficiently,” he said. “But I feel pretty good in general. I feel as much like myself as I could at this point. I spent a fair amount of time on crutches this offseason, and getting used to moving quickly again is still fairly early. So by the time the season comes around, I think full go will be 110%.

“I’m still building to that but I feel pretty good.”

Andrus hit a solo home run in the first inning against one of his former teams as the Sox beat the Texas Rangers 5-4 in a Cactus League game Saturday at Camelback Ranch. The winning run scored on a Bryan Ramos infield hit in the ninth.

Oscar Colás, competing for a roster spot, continued his strong spring with a single in three at-bats. The outfielder has a .438 average in eight games.

The Sox stole six bases in seven attempts.