Like many Major League Baseball stars, Michael Kopech of the White Sox is a tattoo fan. Ink covers a large part of his left forearm.
His first tattoo was a number 34, on his left wrist.
Kopech says that wearing artwork on your skin can be a great way to express your personality.
Kopech’s tattoos became more personal over time. He says he doesn’t like to expose his tattoos, so he wears long sleeve shirts to cover them. I often wear long sleeves to hide my tattoos during games. They also have some history about my spiritual and human growth.
Most of his tattoos have a spiritual theme. The three cherubs are similar to religious art, such as the Sistine Chapel ceiling, which features religious artwork. Each cherub is supposed to represent one of his three children.
The angels’ bodies are covered with the words “FAMILY,” “ROOTS,” and other messages.
Many Sox players wear tattoos that represent their roots. In a 2022 video, third baseman Yoán Moncada showed off a giant angel on his shoulder representing his mother and script, in Spanish, on the family.
José Rodriguez, 22, who made his debut with the Sox earlier this season before being sent back to the minors, has a tattoo of an anchor with the initials of each of his family members. He claims that it’s to remind him of his Dominican Republic home.
Kopech’s tattooing style is described as “eclectic.”
He says, “I’m not trying to make them look cool.” “I just love what I have.”
His tattoo is a picture of a tree he saw through a cracked window. It was a common scene for him as a child in Texas. A tree was always outside his bedroom window. He also remembers a song by Whiskey Myers called “Broken Window Serenade.”
Kopech says, “As the group grew and became more popular, I went through baseball with them. And got more established within the league.” “I felt like I was growing up with this music, and it hit home more,” Kopech says.
Kopech is on the injured list due to inflammation in his right shoulder. He says that getting a tattoo helps him relax. He’s fallen asleep even while getting tattoos.
Kopech says, “I feel the needle easing up a bit.” Many times, you have to deal with the pain of surgery. It’s almost like therapy.”
He intends to get ink on another part of his body, possibly one of his legs. He hasn’t inked his pitching elbow.
Kopech: “I’m paranoid about the right arm.”
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