Left-hander Garret Crochet put on quite the show in his major-league debut last September against the Cincinnati Reds. He struck out two in an inning on Sept. 18 that included six pitches at either 100 or 101 mph.
Kopech hasn’t pitched in a big-league game since 2018. He missed 2019 while recovering from Tommy John surgery, and after participating in spring training, Kopech opted out when the sport returned from the break because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“It’s been a long time for me obviously,” Kopech said during a conference call Saturday. “And getting back out there and getting comfortable with the same group of guys, but a few new faces, makes everything a little bit more lighthearted, a little bit easier.