Michael Kopech pitches well — and reaches 99 mph on his fastball — in his 1st appearance with the Chicago White Sox since 2018: ‘I just really enjoyed ... being in the competitor’s mode again’

Michael Kopech had an “eerily familiar” feeling being back on the mound for a regular-season game.

The Chicago White Sox prospect pitched well in his first relief outing, striking out three in two-plus scoreless innings in Friday’s 12-8 victory against the Los Angeles Angels.

He walked one, didn’t allow a hit and was credited with the victory at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif.

“I was a lot calmer than I expected to be,” Kopech said after the game. “I just really enjoyed being back out there and being in the competitor’s mode again. Not that I didn’t get to experience that in spring training, but this is just different. It was nice being back out there and getting back in that element.”

Kopech, 24, last pitched in a regular-season game Sept. 5, 2018, only his fourth appearance in the majors. He spent 2019 recovering from Tommy John surgery and opted out of the pandemic-shortened 2020 season for personal reasons.

The Sox built an early 7-1 lead Friday, but when Kopech entered in the sixth inning, that lead had dwindled to 7-6.

“When we had a pretty good lead there for a minute, I thought I would be coming in with hardly any pressure,” Kopech said. “I was trying to hold onto a one-run lead and it made me go out there and compete with every pitch, which is what the game plan should be anyway. It got me back into the game the way I needed to be.”

His fastball reached 99 mph as he set the side down in order in the sixth and seventh. He returned for the eighth and walked Mike Trout before exiting.

“Going back out for that second (inning) felt more familiar to me than coming out for the first one,” Kopech said. “In that second inning, I went back on the mound warming up, coming out of the dugout, it was so just like a starter role.

“I’m very familiar with that and like doing that and being in the dugout with the boys when I’m pitching. That part was familiar and I’m looking forward to more opportunities.”

Starting is the long-term plan for Kopech, but for now the Sox are utilizing him out of the bullpen.

“He has pretty much every tool in the trade,” Friday’s starter Dallas Keuchel said. “Mike is going to be a stopper for a reason and whenever we decide to move him back into the rotation, he’s going to be one of the best starters in the league as well.”

Manager Tony La Russa called Kopech’s first relief appearance “very impressive.”

“A lot of cool to match the composure,” La Russa said, “great mound presence to match his outstanding stuff without any experience.”

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