White Sox Minor League Update: June 28, 2017

Michael Kopech came to the White Sox with a history of what baseball reports call immaturity/makeup issues. In 2015, he tested positive for a stimulant. In 2016, he broke his throwing hand punching a teammate.

Some people grow out of poor decision-making, some people don’t. From an AL.com story, it sounded like his confidence received the required jolt.

"I was ready to stop playing baseball. I was ready to go home. I didn't know what was going on," Kopech said. "I had just sat out for a year straight and didn't know what else to do and I felt that things were piling on top of me and I was feeling misunderstood. The more I pressed, the worse it got."

Kopech said meditation, which he started with the Red Sox while waiting for his hand to heal, helps him stay on track. His father said the trade didn’t hurt, either, as it gave the younger Kopech some distance -- literal and figurative — from his mistakes. For their part, the White Sox didn’t see any cause for future concern:

While the White Sox were aware of the fight and drug suspension, Getz said the team saw no red flags with Kopech. They saw a future frontline starter with loads of untapped potential, as well as a hard worker who drove 90 minutes each way to and from his offseason training facility in Texas until he could afford to buy an apartment near it.

Top prospects at a glance:

• Yoan Moncada: 2-for-5, HR, 2B, K
• Jordan Guerrero: 8 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K
• Luis Alexander Basabe: 0-for-5, K
• Zack Collins: 1-for-3, BB, K
• Dane Dunning: 7 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 K, 2 HBP
• Luis Robert: 1-for-2, 2B, BB, HBP

Charlotte 7, Columbus 6

• Yoan Moncada went 2-for-5 with a homer, a double and a strikeout.
• Jacob May was 0-for-4 with a walk and three strikeouts.
• Rymer Liriano was 1-for-3 with two walks.
• Danny Hayes, 2-for-4 with a walk.

Birmingham 3, Biloxi 1

• Eddy Alvarez was 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts.
• Jake Peter, 2-for-4 with a K.
• Nick Basto went 1-for-4.
• Trey Michalczewski was 1-for-3.
• Jordan Guerrero: 8 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K

Down East 2, Winston-Salem 0

• Luis Alexander Basabe was 0-for-5 with a strikeout.
• Joel Booker was 0-for-5 without a strikeout.
• Zack Collins went 1-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout.
• Jameson Fisher was 1-for-4 with a double and a strikeout.
• Johan Cruz went 0-for-4.
• Danny Mendick, 1-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout.
• Dane Dunning: 7 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 K, 2 HBP

Hickory 1, Kannapolis 0

• Luis Gonzalez was 0-for-3 with a walk.
• Aaron Schnurbusch, 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.
• Micker Adolfo went 0-for-4 with a K.

Helena 8, Great Falls 7

• Craig Dedelow went 1-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout.
• Justin Yurchak went 1-for-5 with two strikeouts.
• Hanleth Otano was 2-for-4 with a homer and a strikeout.
• Ricky Mota made his Great Falls debut, going 3-for-5 with a strikeout.
• Wil Kincanon: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 HBP

AZL Brewers 5, AZL White Sox 4

• Lenyn Sosa went 3-for-4 with a sac bunt, and was caught stealing.
• Sam Abbott went 1-for-4 with a strikeout.

DSL D-backs1 12, White Sox 4

• Luis Robert went 1-for-2 with a double, walk and HBP, giving him a .500 OBP.
• Luis Mieses went 1-for-5 with a double and a strikeout.
• Harvin Mendoza, 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout.
• Josue Guerrero, 1-for-4 with a double.
• Anthony Coronado went 0-for-4 with a K.
• Ulises Martinez was 0-for-1.
• Santo Vasquez went 2-for-4 with a homer.
• Brayant Nova was 2-for-4.