Michael Kopech to Throw for MLB Teams in Comeback Bid

Michael Kopech is scheduled to work out for clubs in the coming days as he tries to return to the majors. The 30-year-old right-hander went unsigned throughout 2026 after a slow recovery from knee surgery and a season-ending injury in 2025.

Kopech joined the Dodgers in a 2024 trade with the White Sox. He posted a 1.18 ERA in 24 regular-season appearances for Los Angeles and a 3.00 ERA over 10 postseason outings. The Dodgers went on to win the championship.

He began the 2025 season in June after dealing with a shoulder impingement and did not allow a run in his first eight appearances. Right knee inflammation then sidelined him for more than two months while he had surgery. After returning, he struggled across six outings, and renewed knee inflammation ended his season.

Kopech’s fastball averaged 97.5 mph in 2025, compared with 98.7 mph in 2024. In 2024, he also ranked in the 92nd percentile for whiff rate and the 93rd percentile for strikeout rate.

During his year away from the majors, Kopech has trained and worked with young pitchers. On the Baseball Isn’t Boring podcast, he said helping others was “as rewarding if not more rewarding” than working for himself. His upcoming appearances will give teams a chance to assess his readiness for a possible 2027 return.