The hashtag #KopechDay took off Tuesday as anticipation for the major league debut of the White Sox top pitching prospect, Michael Kopech, grew ahead of the game that evening.
Kopech was acquired along with second baseman Yoan Moncada and two other prospects in the December 2016 trade which sent Sox ace Chris Sale to Boston.
Kopech came out to a standing ovation in front of an excited crowd at Guaranteed Rate Field to face the Minnesota Twins.
The first of what should be a ton of strikeouts in his career began with Miguel Sano to commit on the breaking ball.
Kopech gave up two hits in the first but escaped without allowing a run. In the second inning he struck out the side to the fans' delight, but then mother nature ruined the fun with a lengthy rain delay which ended his night.
He went two innings and struck four without allowing a run.
Sox first baseman Jose Abreu was scratched from the game after complaining of lower abdominal pain. A few hours later, the team announced that Abreu had outpatient surgery for an unidentified issue in his lower abdomen-slash groin area.
Chicago Baseball
He's expected to be able to return to baseball activities in about two weeks.
