Michael Kopech began his 2025 season on an injured list and recovered from a right shoulder collision that he had suffered in spring training. The right-handed savior also fought the stomach virus that sidelined him earlier this month.
Kopek, who joined the Los Angeles at trade deadline last season, suffered from forearm and elbow pain in the fall. He pitched 24 innings with Los Angeles in the regular season and nine innings through the ‘ World Series run.
“It’s a little more difficult to bounce back than it should have,” Kopeck told Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register.
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In addition to Kopech, reliever Evan Phillips also opens the season with IL, leaving the depleted bullpen for the Los Angeles .
Kopech told Plunkett that he initially felt healthy after training in the spring. However, he believes that the pain in his shoulder and forearms since last season has “sneaked into his shoulder.”
“I felt good, but I think (the shoulders) weren’t ready,” Kopech told Plunkett.
Kopech did not pitch during spring training as the organization chose to stop pitching and replace it with “some enhanced ones.”
Kopech did not travel to Japan and did not return for a few weeks, but the 28-year-old doesn’t think the pain is too concerned.
“It’s not a big deal because it feels like an actual throwing arm again,” Kopech told Plunkett. “It’s not like a real injury.
When he’s healthy, Kopech is a strong addition to the Los Angeles bullpen. Last postseason, the 2014 first-round draft pick recorded an ERA 3.00 and 10 strikeouts in nine innings.
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Kopech is a career-high season with a 3.46 ERA in the 2024 season. After he joined the , his days from Texas fell to a career-high 1.13.
Without Kopech and Phillips, the have a reliable bullpen, with important works such as All-Star Tanner Scott, Kirby Yates, Blake Treinen, Alex Vescia, Vencaspalius and Anthony Vanda. Therefore, the do not need to hurry up Kopech.
Currently there is no timeline for Kopech to return to the 26-man roster.
Photo credit: Brad Penner-Immagn Image
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