When the Red Sox traded for starting pitcher Drew Pomeranz on Thursday, Boston fans were hoping top pitching prospect Michael Kopech was not included in the deal. Kopech’s pitch fell just shy of the 105.1 miles per hour fastball record set by Current Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman in 2010, when he was pitching for the Cincinnati Reds.
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While there is no speed readings displayed on the scoreboard at Salem’s ballpark, leading to very few in attendance realizing just how fast Kopech’s offering was, the high velocity of the pitch was recorded by a pair of radar guns in the stadium.
Kopech’s 105 reading didn’t come via the same advanced technology.
Kopech’s fastball sat at 98 mph Wednesday, per Baseball America.
The reason why he’s only on his second start of the season is that he broke his right hand during a fight with his roommate in spring training.
Kopech, 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, is a former first-round draft pick who has 104 strikeouts in 91 2/3 innings in his pro career. Last season, the right-hander missed 50 games due to a positive test for PEDs. In that span, Kopech has struck out 104 batters over 92 innings. His bugaboo to date has been high walk totals, and his rate of 4.3 walks per nine innings suggest he still needs a bit more polish before he ascends through the minors.
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It sounds like Boston has a real flamethrower in their system.
