Red Sox Arizona Fall League Preview Part 1: The Pitchers

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Sep 15, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of baseball gloves on the railing of the dugout prior to the game between the Oakland Athletics and the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports /

Michael Kopech

Acquired: 2014 first round pick (33rd overall) out of high school in Texas

DOB 4-30-96

Ht. 6-3 Wt. 205 Throws Right

Scouting Report: Positively explosive fastball, that was already thought to touch 100 mph at times, was clocked at 105 in a July 2016 start in Salem, North Carolina, setting the baseball world abuzz. Still struggles with command at times. Three-quarters arm slot with a high leg kick. Late life of pitch projects to at least middle of the rotation starter. Slider also a plus pitch which can be a wipeout pitch to righties. Kopech throws his changeup in the high 80s and it is clearly the worst of his three current pitches.

Outlook The 20 year old has had some bumps in the road since the middle of last year. In July 2015, he was suspended 50 games for taking a PED which he denied but served his suspension. In March of 2016, he fractured a bone in his pitching hand in an altercation with a roommate further hindering his development. His first start came on June 17 and he was having a spectacular season until his last start of the year on August 31 in which his control deserted him and he walked five, giving up six earned runs in just two-thirds of an inning causing his season ERA to rise from 1.23 to 2.25. In 135 career professional innings, he has struck out 172 while allowing just 93 hits, good for a .198 batting average against.

AFL Goals Build up arm strength through pitching innings. Pitching only 135 innings over two seasons, if he wants to be a major league starter, he will have to build up arm strength to handle a full season of up to 200 innings so he is two or three years away from the majors at least. If they want to use him in the bullpen to harness that electric fastball, he could reach the bigs sooner.

Next: Prediction: Red Sox will fire John Farrel

Stay tuned to BoSoxInjection.com for all Red Sox news and analysis and Part Two of the Arizona Fall League Preview looking at the hitters who will be there this season.

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