Parkersburg Catholic High School graduate and Marshall University pitcher Patrick Copen has returned to the mound for Class High-A Great Lakes Loon after an injury last season left him without vision in his right eye. (Photo Provided)

MIDLAND, Mich. — Opening Day starter holds a special place for any professional baseball player.

The fact Patrick Copen was standing on the same mound where he was hit in the face by a line drive 7 ½ months earlier and leaving him without vision in his right eye was a feat in itself. During the road to recovery, there was never a moment Copen thought he wouldn’t pitch again.

So here he was facing the Lake County Capitals for the start of the 2025 season in the Midwest League.

“When I first stepped on the mound, I wasn’t really thinking about (the recovery process),” said the 23-year-old right-hander who pitched for Parkersburg Catholic High School and Marshall University prior to being drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023.

“I was just focused on making my pitches and doing the job I needed to do as a starter,” Copen continued. “When I was taken out of the game, that’s when you know. The moment really hit me and I kind of took in what I had gone through the past year.

“It definitely was a full circle moment. It was pretty emotional with my family being there on my first time back on the same mound where my injury happened. But that kind of gave me a little bit more adrenaline. I really enjoyed it.”

At 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds, Copen has an overpowering fastball ranging upwards of 97 to 98 miles per hour. It’s the movement which gives opposing batters fits and batting at a .162 clip.

In his five starts covering 19.2 innings, Copen has not allowed a home run and following Wednesday’s no-decision outing of 3.2 innings, he leads Midwest League pitchers with 33 strikeouts.

Part of his success dates back to last season when he adopted a significant leg kick across his body at the end of his delivery.

“That’s something the Dodgers and I put in,” Copen said. “It allows my body to flow smoothly down and keep my hips closed a little longer.”

The one downside to Copen’s game is control. He has allowed 21 base on balls.

“It’s a mechanical thing — my pitching coach and I look back at video from my outings to see where my body may not be moving the way I want,” Copen said. “So in between starts, my coaches and I look at that video and how to tailor my drills to what I need to fix.”

Leading up to his assignment to Great Lakes for the start of the regular season, Copen arrived at the Dodgers’ spring training site in Arizona ahead of the assigned date pitchers and catchers were required to report.

His workouts included extra sessions on fielding and adjusting to his limited vision.

“As far as pitching, it was like riding a bike – I never felt like that part of my game went away,” Copen said. “But from fielding my position, there were definitely some things that needed to be worked out. In spring training there would be times I would work on fielding by myself – just kind of throwing a soft ball at the wall and having it come back at me.

“Now, it’s normal as can be. There is nothing that I’m worried about today.”

Copen feels blessed to be a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. They have been supportive from the moment the injury occurred Aug. 20, 2024.

“Every staff member I talk to at Great Lakes as well as everyone at spring training were extremely supportive, and excited I was back and playing again,” Copen said. “They have been there the entire time, so there’s nothing more I could ask from them.

“They are a great organization and great people.”

Copen earned his first victory last Thursday in a 3-1 win at Lake County. In 5.2 innings of shutout ball, Copen allowed just three hits and three walks while striking out seven.

“It was pretty solid execution – with the help of my pitching coach, I obviously went in with a plan and executed it pretty well,” Copen said. “We also had some adjusting to do towards the later innings when they get guys on but you get the next guys out. Just everything was working that day.”

A pitch count kept Copen from going deeper into the win over Lake County. He understands the grand plan and protecting arms. His one goal is to remain healthy and make all his assigned starts.

Typical of any start, Copen remained in the dugout to support his teammates and close out the win.

“I try to make baseball a team sport as much as possible,” Copen said. “You know every guy there is trying to do the same exact thing I am — we are all trying to win. We are all trying to get better. You know we are all trying to make it to the next level.

“Just being behind our guys gives everybody that little extra juice that we need to accomplish.”

With a no-decision in his latest start on Wednesday, Copen’s record stands at 1-1.

“I feel extremely good because obviously there is a lot of talent, but there is also a lot of hard work that goes into each outing — both physical as well as from a mental standpoint,” Copen said. “You are training physically every day and you are also working hard to create a gameplan and to execute that gameplan throughout each game. Getting that first win, it feels really good when it all comes together.

Copen actually feels his pitching mechanics are at a better place now than when the injury occurred last August. He checked in with an eye specialist several times during spring training, but his appointments have become less frequent since the season opened

He has transitioned to his daily life away from the ballpark, as well.

“During my appointments in spring training, they said everything was in as good of a spot as it could be,” Copen said. “The appointments are more spread out now that everything is stable. There is not really much to be worried about.”

As far as Copen is concerned, it’s now just about the tools of his trade. And that being his stealth delivery from his right arm.

“I’m the most blessed about everything — everything is a gift right now,” Copen said. “I can’t be more happy with the spot I’m in. I’m going to field every day trying to get as good as possible every single day.

“Opening day was definitely a full circle moment,” Copen said. “Just being able to look back at all that hard work that had gone in to get to that point was extremely amazing.”

Contact Kerry Patrick at kpatrick@newsandsentinel.com