Kopech Set to Start Monday for Knights

(NORFOLK, VA) - RHP Michael Kopech , who was promoted to the Charlotte Knights from Double-A Birmingham on Saturday (August 19), officially joins Charlotte's active roster today. Kopech will make his Triple-A debut tonight in Norfolk, VA as he gets the ball in game one of the four-game series. Earlier today, Charlotte RHP Carson Fulmer was recalled by the Chicago White Sox. Fulmer, 23, will serve as the team's 26^th man for their doubleheader against Minnesota today. Additionally, RHP Mark Lowe was released by the White Sox. Charlotte's roster now features 25 active players.

Kopech, 21, is the number 12 prospect in baseball and the number three prospect in Chicago's system as ranked by MLB.com. He went 8-7 record with a 2.87 ERA in 22 starts with the Double-A Barons this season. A native of Longview, Texas, Kopech has allowed just 77 hits while striking out a Southern League-best 155 batters in 119.1 innings pitched this season. He has limited Southern League batters to a league-best .184 batting average.

Fulmer, a native of Lakeland, FL, compiled a 7-8 record with a 5.61 ERA in 24 starts (122.0 innings pitched) with the Knights this season. The 23-year-old right-hander, who was selected as the eighth overall pick in the June 2015 First-Year Player Draft by the White Sox, is currently tied for the International League lead in games started. He is scheduled to start game two of Chicago's doubleheader today.

For the season, the Knights have now promoted 17 players to Chicago. RHP Tommy Kahnle (April 6), catcher Kevan Smith (April 13 & May 10), OF Willy Garcia (April 14, May 2, & July 27), RHP Mike Pelfrey (April 22), RHP Chris Beck (April 25), LHP David Holmberg (May 4), RHP Gregory Infante (May 15), RHP Tyler Danish (May 26), RHP Juan Minaya (May 26 & June 26), OF Adam Engel (May 27 & June 20), RHP Brad Goldberg (June 3 and July 19), 2B Yoán Moncada (July 19), LHP Aaron Bummer (July 27), INF/OF Nicky Delmonico (August 1), and RHP Reynaldo López (August 11), and RHP Danny Farquhar (August 19) are the other 16 players who have all received promotions this year.

Lowe, 34, made eight appearances with the Knights this season and went 0-0 with an 8.38 ERA (9.2 innings pitched). He was acquired by the White Sox organization on July 24^th in a trade with the Seattle Mariners organization. In 32 games with Triple-A Tacoma before the trade, he posted a 3-4 mark with one save and a 6.23 ERA in 32 games (39.0 innings pitched).

The Knights will face the Norfolk Tides (Triple-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles) tonight from Harbor Park in Norfolk, VA. Pre-game radio coverage of tonight's 7:05 p.m. game will begin at 6:50 p.m. on ESPN Charlotte (730 AM) and CharlotteKnights.com. The "Voice of the Charlotte Knights" Matt Swierad will have the call for all of the action.