CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Kevan Smith is not trying to talk out of turn, or step on the White Sox plans, but after eight years in the organization, the catcher has seen prospect arms come and go, and fashions himself as being able to evaluate just a little bit.



So what did he think of the team’s top pitching prospect Michael Kopech when he first started catching him?



“In my personal mind, I thought this dude was a closer,” Smith said. “I caught him a bunch and I’m constantly like ‘Kopey, you would be dominant out of the bullpen as a closer. Whatever you want to be, but great heater, good slider, cambio…he’s working on it, but it was so special to see in Louisville, his last three pitches, at 100 pitches, were at 100 mph. And I’m like, ‘Damn, that’s so special.’ I’m thinking ‘If this guy only had a curveball or something with a little more depth and a little...