Kopech rejuvenated after opting out: I need baseball 'more than I realized'

Chicago White Sox right-hander Michael Kopech had an epiphany during his time away from baseball in 2020 after opting out of MLB's abbreviated season.

"I think I learned I needed this game a lot more than I realized," Kopech told reporters Saturday, according to MLB.com's Scott Merkin.

Kopech said he opted out of last season for a number of reasons including the COVID-19 pandemic, his own health reasons, and his family, according to NBC Sports Chicago's Chuck Garfien.

"People are going to say and think and write whatever they want ... and they can continue to do so but that's not going to define who I am," Kopech said, per Garfien. "And who I am is the best I can be for my teammates, my family and my friends."

The 24-year-old Kopech enters the 2021 season with his rookie eligibility still intact. He hasn't pitched since 2018 when he posted a 5.02 ERA in 14 1/3 innings across four starts with the White Sox. He underwent Tommy John surgery that September.

He's long been a top pitching prospect and was one of the key pieces alongside infielder Yoan Moncada in the trade that sent former ace Chris Sale to the Boston Red Sox in 2016.

Despite the long road back, Kopech said he's ready for any role the White Sox need him to fill, even if he's pitching out of the bullpen, according to Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune.