Tue Oct 29 03:40:00 UTC 2024: ## Former White Sox Pitcher Kopech Thrives with Dodgers, While Chicago Fans Watch with Envy

**LOS ANGELES, CA** – Michael Kopech, once a fan favorite in Chicago, is now a key piece of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ pitching staff, with the team just four wins away from a World Series title. The move, part of a larger White Sox rebuild, has left many Chicago fans with mixed emotions.

The trade that sent Kopech to the Dodgers in a three-team deal also saw the White Sox acquire young infielders Jeral Perez and Alexander Albertus. While Perez and Albertus are considered promising prospects, their development is years away, leaving some questioning the long-term value of the deal for Chicago.

Kopech, meanwhile, has flourished in Los Angeles. After struggling as the White Sox closer, he has thrived in the Dodgers’ bullpen, compiling a 1.13 ERA in 24 games this season. Working with the Dodgers’ coaching staff, he has honed a devastating cut fastball that has kept opponents at bay.

“The cutter is a pitch that I can just rip a little bit more, like a fastball, stay through it easier,” Kopech told The Athletic. “I can throw it more in the strike zone with less action.”

While the White Sox are focused on their future, fans in Chicago are left to watch Kopech’s success with a combination of pride and a touch of envy. It’s a reminder that even the best-laid plans can take unexpected turns, leaving some cheering for their former hero while hoping for a brighter future in Chicago.

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