RHP Michael Kopech Officially Promoted to Chicago White Sox Tuesday

(NORFOLK, VA) -- RHP Michael Kopech , who posted a 7-7 record with a 3.70 ERA and 170 strikeouts in 126.1 innings this season with the Charlotte Knights, has been officially promoted to the Chicago White Sox today. Kopech, 22, will make his major league debut tonight as he takes the mound for the White Sox against the Minnesota Twins in Chicago, IL.

In two additional roster moves for today, outfielder Ryan LaMarre was recalled to the White Sox and RHP Tyler Danish was optioned to Charlotte from Chicago (Report TBD). Charlotte's roster currently features 23 active players.

Rated as the number two prospect in the White Sox system by Baseball America, Kopech was in the midst of solid second half campaign with the Knights. The Mount Pleasant, TX native posted a 4-0 record with a 1.84 ERA over seven starts after the 2018 All-Star Break. Over that span, Kopech posted 59 strikeouts and just four walks over 44.0 innings pitched. Since June 20 (his last 11 starts), he compiled a 5-2 record with a 2.25 ERA in 64 innings pitched with 88 strikeouts.

For the season, Kopech -- the top pitching prospect in the White Sox organization -- is the leader in all of Minor League Baseball in strikeouts (170) and is tied for the International League lead in starts (24). Additionally, IL batters have hit just .219 against him -- the second best mark in the league this season.

Last season, Kopech posted a 9-8 record with a 2.88 ERA in 25 starts combined between Double-A Birmingham and Charlotte. He struck-out 172 batters in 2017, which ranked as the fifth best mark in all of Minor League Baseball. Last season, he was a two-time White Sox Minor League Pitcher of the Month and he earned the Southern League's Most Outstanding Pitcher of the Year Award after ranking among the league leaders in strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP.

Kopech is the 20^th player this season to earn a promotion to the Chicago White Sox. Those 20 players, along with the date(s) of their promotion, are as follows: RHP Bruce Rondόn (April 8), RHP Chris Volstad (April 12), RHP Gregory Infante (April 21), RHP Chris Beck (April 23), OF Daniel Palka (April 24), RHP Juan Minaya (April 28 & June 5), RHP Dylan Covey (April 28 & May 19), LHP Jace Fry (May 4), INF José Rondόn (May 5 & May 19), OF Charlie Tilson (May 24), C Alfredo González (May 24), INF Matt Skole (May 28), C Kevan Smith (June 5), LHP Xavier Cedeño (June 7), RHP Thyago Vieira (June 22 & July 27), RHP Jeanmar Gόmez (July 12), RHP Tyler Danish (July 27), catcher Dustin Garneau (August 3), OF Ryan LaMarre (August 7 & August 21), and RHP Michael Kopech (August 21). Last season, 22 players earned a promotion from Charlotte to Chicago.

Tonight, the Charlotte Knights and Norfolk Tides (Triple-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles) will resume a suspended game from August 1^st at 5:05 p.m. from Harbor Park in Norfolk, VA. That game will be played to its completion. The two teams will then play the regularly scheduled game, which will be a seven-inning contest, following a 30-minute intermission. Pre-game radio coverage will begin at 5:00 p.m. tonight on 730 The Game ESPN Charlotte and CharlotteKnights.com. The "Voice of the Charlotte Knights" Matt Swierad will have the call for all of the action.