David Kopp
| IP | 477 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 4.604 |
| WHIP | 1.545 |
| BB/9 | 3.736 |
| SO/9 | 6.075 |
- Full name David Justin Kopp
- Born 10/22/1985 in Coral Springs, FL
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 205 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Clemson
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Drafted in the 2nd round (71st overall) by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2007 (signed for $459,000).
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The Tigers' pitching staff blossomed this spring, and Kopp was one of four Clemson pitchers who could go in the top five rounds. Somewhat enigmatic, Kopp has been inconsistent with his control and velocity, but at his best he flashed middle-of-the-rotation stuff. He stayed behind and on top of the ball better during his delivery this spring and improved his direction to the plate. His fastball ranges from 91-96 mph, sitting at 92. He gets sink and run from his three-quarters arm slot, though he doesn't repeat his release point. His changeup is a weapon, but his 81-83 mph slider shows potential of becoming a legitimate put-away pitch. He needs to improve his mental approach and confidence, especially in tight situations. Kopp has more upside than the typical college righthander in this year's draft, and he could be taken as early as the second round.
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Organization Prospect Rankings
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A 2011 season that began with a spot on the 40-man roster and included a rocky twist through the Springfield rotation ended where Kopp felt he belonged all along: the bullpen. After going 2-5, 7.98 in nine starts, he posted a 2.50 ERA as a Double-A reliever, though he later got hit hard in that role in stints in Triple-A and the Arizona Fall League. Coming out of the bullpen betters suits Kopp, who missed chunks of his first two full pro seasons with shoulder irritation. He feels less inhibited by the need to throw starter's innings and his stuff takes a step forward. Kopp went from averaging 91-92 mph on his sinking fastball as a starter to working at 94-95 as a reliever. He started throwing his three-quarters breaking ball more often in the low 80s and with more bite. He was able to focus on those two pitches and not worry about refining his changeup once he left the rotation. Kopp has a career 8.18 ERA in Triple-A, and he'll start 2012 by returning there. If he can correct the command that faltered in the AFL, he has a chance to eventually become a big league set-up man. -
The strong-armed Kopp came out of a stacked Clemson rotation in 2007 that featured four high-round prospects. Health held him back in his first couple of years in the organization. He missed part of the 2008 season with significant shoulder soreness, a condition that flared again in 2009 and cut him off at 90 innings. In 2010, the stat that sang out more than the groundballs and velocity was his 26 starts. He didn't miss a turn in the rotation and made the Double-A Texas League's postseason all-star team. Kopp has a two-seam fastball that he throws at 93 mph with biting sink. Look no further than the two groundouts he got for every flyout. He mixes in a slider that's becoming a swing-and-miss pitch, and a four-seam fastball at 95-96 mph. Kopp went 0-5, 8.63 in a five-game stint in Triple-A, reinforcing his need to develop a changeup. His sinker is good enough to lean on, especially if he conditions his mechanics for a consistent release point. Added to the 40-man roster after the season, Kopp will get a crack at the Memphis rotation in 2011. He reminds people of Mitchell Boggs, another college pitcher with good sink who climbed the ranks as a starter and then emerged in the majors as a strong-armed reliever.
