Michael Kopech (4-15-25)

Michael talks about the importance of Jackie Robinson Day and shares his experience listening to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar speak to the team before the game. 

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
It is Jackie Robinson Day at Dodgers Stadium, and I'm
joined right now by one of those bullpen dogs that
helped the Dodgers win the World Series last year. And
it was his first experience wearing the forty two in
a Dodger uniform on Jackie Robinson Day. And that's the
great Michael Kopek. Michael, thanks a lot for the time, appreciate.

Speaker 2 (00:18):
It, Thanks for having me.

Speaker 1 (00:19):
What was it like for you? I mean, you've been
in Major League Baseball with a couple of other teams
on Jackie Robinson Day, But what was it like for
you to experience what you did at the statue?

Speaker 2 (00:29):
I mean, I think Jackie Robinson Day and gen was.

Speaker 3 (00:31):
Just like a really special day to baseball. You know,
it shows, you know, not only the history of our
country and the growth of this game all in one,
but it encapsulates a great player breaking through that. But
you know, wearing forty two on your back, you know,
and in a different uniform, it doesn't hit quite as hard

(00:52):
as wearing it in the Dodger blue. And then it's
cool we have the Brooklyn hat today. But yeah, being
out there hearing how close uh kareem story? Is to Jackie,
not not in similarities, but how close their their relationship
actually overlapped. And then just to be able to experience,

(01:14):
you know, the emotions of that and what it felt
like to have you know, Dodger family and actually Jackie
Robinson's family here.

Speaker 2 (01:24):
It was just really cool. It's really special. So I
was happy to be a part of it.

Speaker 1 (01:29):
You have so many different backgrounds in that clubhouse. Do
you believe what Kareem said and what Jackie Robinson day
means resonates with everybody, no matter what their background is.

Speaker 2 (01:40):
Yeah. Absolutely, you know, I think that.

Speaker 3 (01:46):
We live in a much different generation than then, but
in you know, all things considered, that wasn't that long ago. Yeah,
So to have, you know, such a diverse clubhouse and
the talents of this game being of all different nationalities,
all different colors, and all different backgrounds, I think kind of,

(02:06):
you know, is a testament to what he did to
you know, his bravery.

Speaker 2 (02:10):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (02:11):
How much did you know about Kareem Abdul Jabbar before
today and just his connection to the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Speaker 3 (02:18):
His connection to to to baseball in general. I didn't
really know about, but to the Dodgers and too you know,
to hear that he said that Jackie actually sent him
a letter. Yeah, it is, you know, that's that's pretty cool.
And to see the impact that that he made in
the world through through his platform and what he was
able to do, and that stemming from from Jackie Robinson.

(02:40):
When it seems like he had already reached so many people,
he found a way to reach even more through Kareem
Abil Jabbar.

Speaker 2 (02:47):
It's just it's it's kind of mind blowing.

Speaker 1 (02:49):
Michael Kopek is our guest. Once all the speeches were
done at the Jackie Robinson statue, Michael got back to
business of pitching and I saw you throwing. You went
out to throw a bullpen session. What can you share
with us about where you're at physically?

Speaker 2 (03:05):
I feel great.

Speaker 3 (03:06):
I think that it's kind of a long road back,
just you know, you know, building up, you know, whether
whether you want to call it stamina or what have
you like, just just building up to be able to
pitch and pitching games again is kind of a long road.
So it's only my second bullpen since I had a setback,
but it felt great and I think there was a

(03:27):
lot of a lot of promise in what I'm doing
right now, but hopefully we can build off of that
and keep going forward.

Speaker 1 (03:33):
When you have a day like today, is there a
sense of relief that your body is responding.

Speaker 2 (03:38):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (03:39):
I think with a game in general, there's a lot
of ups and downs. You know, I'm let's say I'm
healthy right now and I'm pitching. I go out there
and I can feel great for one game. In the
next game maybe not so good, and you have to
find a way. There's a little bit of that when
you're doing a rehab stent too, but you don't know
if you're going to bounce back when you have a
bad day and rehab, so it can be this roller

(04:00):
coaster of emotions if you if you ride every single
feeling of every single day, but to have a high
day mix it that a little bit easier and you
get to kind of just build off of that.

Speaker 1 (04:11):
Like I said, I have so much respect for you
and for all those guys in the bullpen last year
that were pushed to the limits to try to win
the World Series. You guys were able to do that.
I haven't talked to you about this, but what you
guys did as a group is unprecedented to carry a
pitching staff that far. How proud are you of that?

(04:32):
And I mean literally left your arm out on the
mound last year.

Speaker 2 (04:36):
Uh Yeah.

Speaker 3 (04:37):
I think the main thing is I'm I'm incredibly grateful
to be a part of a group that that was
that was that special. You know, whether one guy did
the job every single night, or you know, somebody needed
to get picked up, like, we never shied away from that,
and we had a group of guys that were willing
to fight that battle all the way through. And to

(04:59):
be a part of that group and a part of
guys that are just so determined to win no matter
you know, what the feeling is or what the situation is.
Like the World Series was the end goal and site
and that was what we were all working towards. So
to be a part of a group that worked that
hard for it, I was incredibly proud of.

Speaker 1 (05:16):
Michael Kopek's name will forever be part of Dodger history,
part of those bullpen dogs. And it's scary to think
that the bullpen's doing so well and you and Evan
Phillips haven't even thrown one pitch yet.

Speaker 3 (05:28):
Yeah, I'm really proud of those guys. I'm hoping Evan's
back soon and seeming like he's getting close, so to
add him to that mix, it's gonna.

Speaker 2 (05:37):
Be really cool to see. Right now, I'm just kind
of watching from a little bit of a.

Speaker 3 (05:40):
Distance, but hopefully I'll start working my way back and
I'll get to be part of that experience again.

Speaker 2 (05:46):
Can't wait.

Speaker 1 (05:47):
It's been so great getting to know you and just
who you are, and obviously that comes out in a
lot of different ways. So thank you for the time
and can't wait to see you back out there.

Speaker 2 (05:56):
Thank you appreciate it.