The Chicago White Sox fans finally witnessed one of their own pitcher being immaculate. White Sox reliever Michael Kopech delivered an immaculate inning to close out a 3-1 win against the Minnesota Twins.
An immaculate inning is considered an inning in which the pitcher strikes out all three batters with nine pitches. Kopech struck out Brooks Lee, Matt Wallner, and Max Kepler in the ninth inning of the Twins game.
Kopech’s immaculate inning was the first in the 2024 season, the 116th in MLB history, and only the second one in the history of the White Sox. The other White Sox pitcher to deliver an immaculate inning was Sloppy Thurston, who did it all the way back in 1923.
“I was telling guys in [the clubhouse] — I’m trying not to lie about it — I was thinking about it from pitch four,’’ Kopech said about his achievement. ‘‘As soon as I realized there were no balls on the board, I wanted to finish that feat off.”
The immaculate inning will certainly boost Michael Kopech’s confidence, especially considering a rough stretch he had recently and the demotion from a starter to a bullpen he experienced in 2024. In 40 games he played this season, Kopech has a 2-8 record with nine saves, 5.18 ERA, and 55 strikeouts.
