White Sox pitcher Michael Kopech files for divorce from ‘Riverdale’ actress Vanessa Morgan
White Sox pitcher Michael Kopech filed for divorce from his wife, “Riverdale” actress Vanessa Morgan, just five months after their “fairy tale” Florida wedding, online court records show.
Kopech filed on June 19 in Morris County in northeast Texas, where he grew up, according to court information. The case was sealed Monday after a Tribune inquiry. No hearing date is scheduled.
Morgan, who is identified as Vanessa Morgan Mziray in the divorce citation, announced Friday she is due to give birth to a son in January. She did not mention Kopech, 24, in her announcement, and he appeared to be absent from the photos and video of her gender reveal celebration she posted on Instagram. A rep for Morgan declined to comment. Attempts to reach Kopech were unsuccessful.
The Sox announced on July 10 that Kopech decided not to play this season for “personal reasons.” Kopech also missed summer camp workouts, which began July 3, to tend to a personal matter.
The Sox’s top pitching prospect, Kopech made four starts for the team in 2018 after they promoted him from Triple-A Charlotte. He went 1-1 with a 5.02 ERA, allowing eight runs on 20 hits in 14 1/4 u2153 innings, with 15 strikeouts and two walks.
He was diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow and underwent Tommy John surgery in September 2018. He missed all of 2019 while recovering from the procedure.
Kopech made one start this spring, with six of his 11 pitches reaching 100 mph. He figured to play a role in the starting rotation before opting out of the coronavirus-shortened season and is considered one of the team’s future stars.
Kopech and Morgan wed Jan. 4 at the Historic Walton House, a tropical locale south of Miami. Madelaine Petsch — Morgan’s “Riverdale” co-star — served as a bridesmaid. “Riverdale” cast members Skeet Ulrich and Drew Ray Tanner, as well as “Degrassi” actress Alicia Dea Josipovic, were among those in attendance at the intimate bohemian ceremony.
Kopech proposed in July 2019 in front of a waterfall in Arizona. The pair had been dating for about a year. The wedding, which Morgan called a “fairy-tale dream,” was planned in a month.
The Canadian actress last posted a photo with Kopech on Instagram on April 30 for his birthday. She revealed she found out May 20 she is pregnant. Kopech has been off social media since October.
Kopech previously dated reality TV star Brielle Biermann, whose mother was a cast member of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta.” The relationship was featured on “Don’t Be Tardy,” a “Real Housewives” spin-off. Biermann and Kopech split in March 2018.
tswartz@tribpub.com
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