Full Circle moment: Pat Copen returns to the hill and blooms after an injury | News, sports, jobs

The graduate of the Catholic High School and the Pitcher of Marshall University, Patrick Copen, has returned for the classes High-A Great Lakes Loon. (Photo provided)

Midland, me. – The starter on the opening day has a special place for every professional baseball player.

The fact that Patrick Copen was on the same hill, where he was hit in the face 7½ months earlier and left him in his right eye without a view, was a performance in himself. During the path to recovery, there was never a moment when Copen thought he would not resume.

Here he stood in front of the capitals of Lake County at the beginning of the 2025 season in Midwest League.

“When I stepped onto the hill for the first time, I didn't really think (the recovery process),” said the 23-year-old right-handed man, who made himself for the Parkersburg Catholic High School and Marshall University before he was collapsed by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023.

“I only focused on doing my parking spaces and doing the job that I had to make as a starter,” Kopen continued. “When I was taken out of the game, you know that the moment really hit me and I took what I had going through last year.

“It was definitely a complete circular moment. It was quite emotional when my family was on my first time on the same hill where my injury happened. But this kind gave me a little more adrenaline. I really enjoyed it.”

With 6-foot 6 and £ 220, Copen has an overwhelming fast ball of over 97 to 98 miles per hour. It is the movement that adapts to the opposing battery and hits one .162 clip.

In his five starts over 19.2 Innerings, Copen did not allow Homerun and after the trip of 3.2 Innerings on Wednesday on Wednesday, he leads the Midwest League Pitcher with 33 rashes.

Part of his success dates from last season when he took over an important kick over his body at the end of his delivery.

“The Dodgers and I used that,” said Copen. “It enables my body to flow down smoothly and keep my hips closed for a little longer.”

The only disadvantage of Copen's game is control. He approved 21 base on balls.

“It is a mechanical thing – my pitching trainer and I can look back on video from my excursions to see where my body doesn't move as I want it,” said Copen. “So in between starts, my trainers and I watch this video and how I can adapt my exercises to what I have to repair.”

Before his order to Great Lakes at the beginning of the regular season, Copen arrived at the Dodgers' Spring Training in Arizona before the assigned date jugs and catchers had to report.

His workouts included additional sessions to the field field and the adaptation to his limited view.

“As far as pitching is concerned, it was like a bike – I never had the feeling that this part of my game was gone,” said Copen. “But there were definitely some things from the field of my position. In spring training there were times when I would work on myself – only a kind of soft ball on the wall and let me come back to me.

“Now it is normal as possible. There is nothing that I'm worried about today.”

Copen feels blessed to be a member of Los Angeles Dodger's organization. From the moment when the injury took place on August 20, 2024.

“Every employee with whom I talk to Great Lakes and everyone at the spring training was extremely supportive and excited that I played back and forth again,” said Copen. “You were there all the time, so I can't ask anything about you anymore.

“You are a great organization and great people.”

Copen won his first win last Thursday in a 3-1 win in Lake County. In 5.2 Inning of the shutout ball, Copen only allowed three hits and three walks while they roamed seven.

“It was a pretty solid version – with the help of my Pitching trainer I obviously received a plan and did it pretty well,” said Copen. “We also had some adjustments to the later innings when they put on boys, but they have the next boys out. Only everything worked that day.”

A number of pitch stopped Copen from going deeper into victory over Lake County. He understands the large plan and protects the weapons. His only goal is to stay healthy and to make all of his assigned starts.

Copen was typical for every start and stayed in the shelter to support his teammates and to win the victory.

“I try to make baseball as much as possible into a man sport,” said Copen. “You know every man there to do exactly the same thing I am – we all try to win. We all try to get better. You know that we all try to make it to the next stage.

“Just being behind our boys gives everyone the small additional juice that we have to reach.”

With a no-decision in his last start on Wednesday, the record of Copen is 1-1.

“I feel extremely good because there is obviously a lot of talent, but there is also a lot of hard work that flow into every excursion – both physically and from a mental point of view,” said Copen. “You train physically every day and also work hard to create a schedule and perform this schedule during each game. If you achieve this first win, it feels really good when everything comes together.

Copen is of the opinion that his Pitching mechanics are now in a better place than at the beginning of the injury last August. During the spring training session, he checked in with an eye specialist several times, but his appointments have become less common since the opening of the season

He is also in his daily life from the baseball stadium.

“During my appointments in spring training, they said that everything was as good as possible,” said Copen. “The appointments are now more distributed because everything is stable. There is not really much that you have to worry about.”

With regard to Copen, it is now only about the tools of his trade. And that is his stealth delivery from his right arm.

“I am most blessed over everything – everything is a gift at the moment,” said Copen. “I can't be more satisfied with the place where I am. I will try to get as much as possible every day.

“The opening day was definitely a complete circular moment,” said Copen. “It was extremely astonishing to look back on all the hard work that had reached this point.”

Contact Kerry Patrick at kpatrick@newsandsentinel.com