Between starting the season on the injured list and then needing surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee, Michael Kopech has appeared in just nine games for the Los Angeles Dodgers this year.
Kopech’s knee surgery was during the first week of July and he was transferred to the 60-day injured list shortly after. That resulted in Aug. 27 begin the earliest date he could return.
Given the proximity to active rosters expanding on Sept. 1, the Dodgers slightly delayed adding Kopech back into their bullpen. He was officially activated on the first day rosters expanded.
Kopech started a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Aug. 14 and pitched in seven games for the Dodgers’ affiliate. Similar to Kopech’s first rehab assignment this year, the results from pitching with the Comets have left plenty to be desired.
But just as that first instance, he’s not concerned.
“Everything changes at this level,” Kopech said. “You come up here and you get in the atmosphere of the game, you get in the atmosphere of the clubhouse, the mindset of competition, plan and direction of a championship, and things like that. Timing is different in that environment than it is in any other environment.
“So I feel pretty good with it all. I feel healthy. And so I think a lot of that will show up as it comes, but kind of getting acclimated here for the next couple days will definitely help with that too.”
Kopech did admit it nevertheless is “upsetting to not perform well” regardless of the setting.
In his 16 games (one start) with Oklahoma City this year, Kopech is 1-1 with a 13.89 ERA and 2.91 WHIP. He’s walked 20 batters and struck out 15 over 11.2 innings pitched.
“The objective is to go down there and feel good, to be ready to do what I need to do here,” Kopech said of his rehab assignment games. “And this is the feeling that I want to be familiar with, is competing in this atmosphere. So whatever that looks like, we’ll see.”
Michael Kopech ‘eager’ for return
Given he’s pitched in a minimal amount of games for the Dodgers this season, Kopech was looking forward to coming off the injured list and making an impact.
“It feels like it’s been a long season. I’ve had two stints on the 60-day, which you never want to go in on the IL in general, but definitely don’t want to miss this many games,” he said. “I’ve pitched like eight innings this year for a team that I really like being a part of.
“I know we all have the same objective in mind, is to go win another championship, and to not get to be a part of what it’s looked like so far, at least not very much, is disappointing. So I’m definitely eager to get back. It has been a long road, but the end of the story isn’t written yet, so could be very rewarding.”
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