Michael Kopech didn’t just switch teams—he escaped.

One day he was stuck in a clubhouse that was very clearly drowning. He was a part of a team with no direction and hope. The next, he was standing on the mound at the Los Angeles Dodgers stadium. Him throwing fastballs, 50,000 fans cheering on, and his name flashing in highlight reels.

For him, it was like a rebirth in LA.

Recently he was asked about the transition from White Sox to the LA Dodgers. And well, let’s just say he didn’t hold back on explaining the difference between the two worlds or galaxies almost.

Kopech mentioned, “It was fun,” about his time in the White Sox.

But Michael Kopech cleared, “And it’s nothing against the White Sox—it just wasn’t a whole lot of fun playing baseball when you’re losing that many games. You get to show up and do what you want to do, train, work, and do all the things you’ve done your whole life, so in that aspect, it was still my safe space. I still enjoyed the game in that way. But winning is always more fun.”

His words sure were a little diplomatic, but the message is clear. He didn’t feel that the White Sox were going anywhere close to winning.

And Michael Kopech isn’t wrong, because the White Sox were already buried by the time he packed his bags there. They were at a 27-82 record. A 21-game losing streak. An eye-watering 38 ½ games back in AL Central. They were buried and had one of the worst seasons in the sport’s history.

Meanwhile, the LA Dodgers were flying super high with 63-44. And look at the lineup they had—Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman. So of course, Michael Kopech was more than thrilled. It’s like he swapped a sedan for a Ferrari.

Ouch, but reality.

Kopech appreciated his new team, saying, “So I came over here and got to instantly feel a winning environment. I got to compete at a different level, and I had a blast being here.” He also mentioned that the more he thinks about the team and the ring, the more he feels the genuineness of the organization.

However, as far as his time has been, it has been rather turbulent.

Michael Kopech’s streak with Los Angeles Dodgers hits a snag

The Los Angeles Dodgers have spent the off-season building a super team. From Cy Young winners to international stars and more. They ended up getting Roki Sasaki even! But now their fabulous team has hit a speedbreaker.

Michael Kopech, one of their most electrifying additions, may not be ready to play in Japan or at the start of the season. He is dealing with elbow inflammation.

However, he said, “It’s nothing serious,” to the Orange County Register, Bill Plunkett. He further mentioned, “I was dealing with a little of it last year during the postseason. … But then with trying to deal with that this offseason and also having some illness and ailments across my family, it kind of slowed down my progress.”

As far as his recovery, Kopech mentioned, “More than likely [I’ll start on the IL]. I don’t really know.”

But he did say anything can happen, and he can be ready for the home opener too.

The team and the Los Angeles Dodgers fans will be looking forward to a quick recovery because Kopech in Los Angeles was absolute fire. In the postseason, he posted a 3.00 ERA in 10 appearances. He struck out 10 and allowed just three earned runs. Manager Dave Roberts called him “a beast.” 

But of course, the Los Angeles Dodgers are super stacked and can manage a little minus him. What do you feel?