Mike Koplove

Mike Koplove was undersized for a pitcher: six feet even. He was also underweight: 165 pounds. He entered pro ball in 1998 as a 29th-round draft pick, carrying what he called “short right-hander stigma.”

Yet Koplove’s baseball career defied expectations. From the day he signed, he understood the path would not be easy. “I had to deal with things from the day I was drafted,” he said. “But really, the D-backs were always fair to me. Right away they said if I performed well and got people out, they’d keep moving me up. The round and my size wouldn’t matter. I took them at their word, then proved myself at every level.”1

The skinny kid from 19th and Shunk in South Philadelphia ultimately turned those early doubts into seven seasons in the major leagues. In 254 2/3 innings across 222 games, he posted a 15–7 record with a 3.82 ERA and 175 strikeouts. His career included multiple honors, including being named the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Rookie of the Year in 2002 and receiving the organization’s Good Guy Award in 2004. He earned a spot on Team USA at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, where he helped the U.S. win the bronze medal. He did not allow a hit in his four appearances, making him the only pitcher on the roster to record a spotless line.2

Koplove’s impact extended beyond his numbers – he quickly became a clubhouse favorite. Most memorably, in his first full season with Arizona, Luis González found a childhood photo of him dressed as Superman and had T-shirts printed with the phrase “Super Koplove.” The team’s veterans wore them around the clubhouse, a testament to how quickly he fit in.3

Koplove proved that determination and execution matter far more than size or draft position. Nothing about his career was given. Every inning, every promotion, and every moment was earned.

***

Michael Paul Koplove was born on August 30, 1976, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.4 His father, Steve, is an attorney and longtime youth baseball coach.5 His mother is Lorraine Milito Criniti, who was, and remains, a full-time homemaker. Mike is the second oldest of six siblings, including stepsiblings. In descending order by age, the siblings are Andrea, followed by Mike, Joey, Franca, Erica, and Kenny.6

Koplove attended Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (SCH), where he both pitched and played shortstop. As a junior for the Blue Devils, he delivered two consecutive 10-strikeout outings during the team’s season-opening trip to Cocoa Beach, Florida. He added two hits and three RBIs in the second performance.7

He built on that success as a senior, sharpening his command and throwing strikes with greater consistency. In a May matchup, he handed league rival Germantown Academy its first league loss of the year, striking out 13 and allowing just two hits in a 2–0 victory. The outing extended his streak to 25 consecutive scoreless innings and just one earned run across his previous 31 frames, during which he recorded 43 strikeouts.8

“I’m just throwing more strikes than in the past few years,” said Koplove. “I’m throwing more curves and I’m getting them over. That’s really the difference.” His coach, John McArdle, also noted his increasing velocity, saying, “He’s throwing about 91 mph. on some of the [radar] guns I’ve seen.”9 At SCH, Koplove became a two-time All-Inter-AC pitcher, earning First Team All-City honors as a senior. He later was named to the 30-Year All-Inter-AC All-Star Team.10

After graduating high school in 1995, Koplove spent two years at Northwestern University before transferring to the University of Delaware for what would become his junior, and final, season of college baseball. His decision to transfer was driven by a desire to play the field and hit, having been used primarily as a pitcher at Northwestern. As The News Journal reported, “The deal was simple enough. If Bob Hannah agreed to allow Mike Koplove to play shortstop when he wasn’t pitching, Koplove would agree to transfer to the University of Delaware.”11

“I just wasn’t ready to give up on playing every day,” Koplove said. However, former Delaware coach Bob Hannah recognized where his long-term future would likely lay. “He loved to play every day at shortstop. But with his arm strength and his feel for the game, I knew, if he played professionally, it would be on the mound,” Hannah said.12

Subtle hints already were pushing Koplove in that direction. His tendency to drop his arm while throwing, a quirk he had no way of knowing eventually would define his path, already was steering him toward the mound. As a shortstop, he occasionally unleashed throws that tailed away from the first baseman. “That turned out to be a little bit of a problem at shortstop,” he reflected.13 During his lone season with the Blue Hens, Koplove hit .239 with seven RBIs. On the mound, he posted a 5–1 record and a 4.60 ERA.14 He helped lead Delaware to a 43–10 mark, including a 23–1 record at home and 22–2 in conference play.15

The Diamondbacks selected Koplove in the 29th round of the 1998 MLB June Amateur Draft as a pitcher. In his mind, the logic was straightforward, “I knew if I had any chance to get drafted, it would be as a pitcher. At shortstop, I’m kind of a one-dimensional defensive player. I knew the Diamondbacks had some interest in me as a pitcher, so this wasn’t a total surprise.”16

Weighing his options at the time, he added, “My goal is to definitely play pro ball. Where I was drafted, I can’t imagine the bonus money will be exceptionally high. I’m kind of 50-50 on whether to sign now or hope to improve my status next year.”17

Ultimately, Koplove chose to sign, viewing the opportunity as one that might not come again. “I had worked my entire life to try to become a professional baseball player. I was always a good student and knew I could go back to school if baseball failed, but I didn’t know if I would ever get another opportunity to play pro ball. The signing bonus wasn’t an issue because of where I was drafted, I knew if I went back for my senior year the money wouldn’t be significantly different either way. I took the stance that this might be my only chance to play professional baseball, so I had to give it a try.”18

Jim Sherman, who served as an assistant coach at Delaware, remembered Koplove distinctly: “He was kind of a skinny kid. You find yourself measuring how he’s going to climb the ladder, because he’s not the prototype of a ballplayer. When you think of a pitcher, you think of 6-3, 220 pounds, hard-throwing. Michael defies all that.” Reflecting years later on Koplove’s path to the majors and what he meant to the program at Delaware, Sherman said, “It’s a great compliment to Michael’s work habits that he’s a big-leaguer. We’re all really proud of him. I’m happy to be able to say that he spent a year with us on his way to the big leagues.”19

Koplove began his professional career with the Lethbridge Black Diamonds of the Pioneer League, where he logged 28 innings. He led all Pioneer League relievers in fewest walks per nine innings. Reflecting on his uncertain draft status, Koplove admitted, “It was kind of scary being a 29th-round pick, because you don’t know what the organization will think of you. But I didn’t worry about that. You just hope you can get the chance.”20

In 1999, his first full season in the organization, Koplove was assigned to South Bend of the Midwest League (Class A), where he went 5–2 with 98 strikeouts over 84.0 innings. He led the club in appearances and finished nine innings short of qualifying for the organizational lead in ERA.

During this stretch, Koplove fully adopted a sidearm delivery. “I’d messed around with throwing sidearm all along, but then I decided to resort to it full time. Now my pitches have more movement and better location and I am getting more ground balls,” he explained. The adjustment required a shift in mindset as well. “I’d always considered myself a power pitcher with a fastball that hit 89 to 91 mph,” Koplove said. “I’ve learned it’s much better to throw a few miles slower with a ball that has a lot more movement.”21

As an undersized right-hander, he also understood the realities of perception in professional baseball: “Small right-handers get overlooked. Our numbers have to be better than the big guys’ numbers. I can’t change how tall I am. Ah, it all comes down to this anyway: Can I get people out?”22

In 2000, Koplove began the season at High Desert (high Class A). After allowing three earned runs in one-third of an inning in his season debut, he surrendered only one earned run over his next 19 outings, including 16 consecutive scoreless appearances. He was promoted to El Paso (Class AA) on June 3 and went 1–0 with two saves and a 0.73 ERA over his first nine games. Opponents hit .225 against him, the third-lowest average among Texas League relievers. He finished Double A with a 4–3 record and a 3.88 ERA. Following the regular season, Koplove pitched for the Scottsdale Scorpions in the Arizona Fall League, posting a 1–1 record with a 2.86 ERA.

In 2001, Koplove continued his ascent through the Diamondbacks’ system. He opened the season with El Paso and posted a 3–2 record with four saves and a 2.66 ERA in 34 appearances. He was promoted to Tucson (Class AAA) of the Pacific Coast League, where he appeared in 17 games and recorded either a win or a save in 13 of them, finishing 4–1 with nine saves and a 2.82 ERA. He held right-handed hitters to eight hits in 53 at-bats (.151). From July 1 to August 21, he combined for 21 appearances between Double A and Triple A and went 5–0 with eight saves and a 0.66 ERA.

Koplove received a September call-up and joined the Diamondbacks during their stretch run. He made his major-league debut on September 6 at Pacific Bell Park in San Francisco. Entering in the top of the sixth inning with two outs, he pitched 1 1/3 innings, faced six batters, struck out three, and allowed two hits. The significance of the moment was not lost on his family, who watched every pitch unfold. His sister, Andrea, then 26, had been sitting with Steve and other relatives roughly 30 rows above the bullpen. When Mike entered the game, she rushed down to a front-row seat.23

“It was strange,” said Koplove. “There was a full house, it was a game in a pennant race and the Giants were in the middle of a rally, so the fans were pretty excited. The sound was like a big murmur, but in the midst of it all, I could hear my sister screaming at the top of her voice. … It took away a little bit of the gravity of the situation.” Steve recalled the moment with equal clarity. “She got the whole section stirred up. ‘That’s my brother! That’s my brother!’ They were cheering Mike by the end of the inning. It was like Rocky IV, where the fans started rooting for the Russian.”24

Koplove said he remained composed as he made his first big-league pitches. “I wasn’t that nervous. I told myself I’d worked so hard to get here, I might as well enjoy it.”25

For Steve, the night carried a sense of resolution after years of watching his son work through the minor leagues. “My heart pounded like crazy whenever I watched Mike pitch in the minors. I knew how important every outing was because he was still trying to make it. But now, he was there. I wasn’t nervous. I had confidence he’d show he belonged. He was throwing 90 to 92 mph, and he topped out at 94.”26

After the game, Koplove received congratulations from Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson. “It’s one thing to hear it from your parents and coaches,” he said, “but to hear it from them, that meant a lot.”27

Koplove’s second big-league appearance came on September 8, when he worked 3 1/3 scoreless innings against San Diego. He followed with shutout outings in Colorado on September 18 and in Los Angeles on September 20.

On September 22 at Dodger Stadium, however, he ran into command issues that led to his first big league decision. Entering with a runner on base and a 5–3 lead in the 11th inning, he issued two walks and hit a batter as the Dodgers rallied for a 6–5 win.

From the final out of his major league debut until surrendering a home run to Milwaukee’s Luis Lopez on September 26, Koplove went 28 consecutive batters without allowing a hit, issuing five walks and hitting two batters along the way. He finished September with 14 strikeouts.

Koplove remained on the Diamondbacks’ active roster for both the Division Series and the NLCS, though he did not appear in either round. He was inactive for the World Series, in which the D-Backs knocked off the New York Yankees, denying the Bronx Bombers their fourth straight championship. Though inactive, Koplove was awarded a World Series ring.

Koplove later acknowledged the mixed emotions he felt about receiving a World Series ring despite not being active for the Fall Classic, balancing humility with an appreciation for the role he played late in the season.

“Definitely there is a part of me that feels like I obviously didn’t earn it anywhere near as much as the rest of the team, as I was a September call-up and was not active for the WS, but at the same time I know there were a couple games down the stretch in the pennant race that I pitched well in and helped the team, and just being put on the playoff roster at all for the LDS and LCS as a September call-up was a huge accomplishment.”28

Koplove said that, with time, the ring has come to represent something more than statistics or appearances.

“Looking at the ring now, I just reminisce about how fortunate I was at that stage in my career and how few players — even great, great players — ever get that ring. It is something I never take for granted.”29

In 2002, Koplove opened the season in the bullpen for Tucson. He appeared in 23 games, recorded three saves, and posted a 1.17 ERA while holding hitters to a .196 average. Over 30 2/3 innings, he struck out 31 and walked just four. The Diamondbacks recalled him on June 5, and he appeared that night against Houston, retiring all three batters he faced in the 12th inning.

Koplove allowed only one run over his first 12 major league games that year, covering 11 innings for a 0.82 ERA, with opponents hitting .154 against him. He earned his first big-league win on July 11 in a 4–3 victory at Los Angeles. On August 3, he pitched in both games of a doubleheader at Shea Stadium, becoming the fourth player in franchise history to do so.

From August 22–30, Koplove logged 8 2/3 hitless innings, holding opponents hitless in 24 at-bats. In his first 33 outings after the All-Star break, he limited hitters to a .150 average. Between August 22 and September 19, he allowed only two runs over 20 1/3 innings, posting a 0.89 ERA across 13 appearances. He made one postseason appearance in 2002, taking the loss in Game Two of the National League Division Series against St. Louis. After delivering a scoreless eighth inning with Arizona trailing 1–0, he surrendered a run on two hits in the ninth following the Diamondbacks’ game-tying rally.

That season, the organization’s staff increasingly took note of the energy and competitiveness Koplove injected into the bullpen. “When he’s on the mound, he thinks he’s Allen Iverson—he always wants the last shot,” said Tommy Jones, the Diamondbacks’ director of player development. Jones also emphasized the distinctiveness of Koplove’s pitching profile, explaining that “he can’t play catch and throw the ball straight. His pitches always have movement to them. You rarely see a good swing, or a confident swing, when hitters face him.” He went on to underscore Koplove’s value beyond the mound: “Someday he will be one of the clubhouse leaders of this team. Our veterans love him. He’s like the mascot of our club.” Even his appearance became part of the club’s internal lore. “He gets carded at every ballpark he goes to because he just doesn’t look like a major-league ballplayer,” said Jones.30

For his part, Koplove remained grounded amid the praise. He observed, “I guess I’d like to close at some point. Really, though, I’m pretty content with where I am. It doesn’t really matter to me. I just want to stay in the major leagues.”31

In 2003, Koplove opened the season as the primary setup reliever, posting a 1.00 ERA in April and allowing only two earned runs across 18 innings. He earned his first win of the year on May 13 in his first career appearance at Veterans Stadium. This marked Koplove’s first return to Philadelphia in a major-league uniform. When asked how many people he expected to attend, he replied with a grin, “Hundreds. My dad is taking care of all the tickets. Everyone is coming out.”32

SCH marked the occasion by sponsoring a “Family Night at the Phillies” in Koplove’s honor. Betsy Longstreth, the school’s former director of development, estimated that about 200 students, alumni, teachers, and coaches planned to attend, occupying the seats directly behind the visitors’ bullpen. “I thought it would be a wonderful night to celebrate his success,” Longstreth said. “I didn’t know how it would be received by the school, because it’s a school night, but everyone was enthusiastic about the idea.”33

For Koplove, returning to Veterans Stadium was a surreal experience that stirred childhood memories shaped by growing up across the street in Packer Park.34 “I used to watch games here all the time. I grew up right across the street. So now it’s weird to be on this side of things,” he said, recalling how deeply the ballpark was woven into his youth.35 One of those memories came from playing in the stadium itself: “I hit a home run there, but it was an inside-the-park home run when I was 10.” He also remembered witnessing some of the stadium’s most memorable moments firsthand: “My dad and I ran across the street to watch the final inning of Terry Mulholland’s no-hitter against the Giants (in 1990). And I was there for Game Six of the 1993 National League Championship Series when the Phillies beat Atlanta.”36

The celebration in Philadelphia, however, was short-lived. Koplove was placed back on the disabled list on June 23 with reoccurring pain in his right shoulder. A July throwing program and a rehab assignment failed to resolve the discomfort, and he underwent arthroscopic surgery on September 15.37 He finished the 2003 season with a 3–0 record, a 2.15 ERA, and 27 strikeouts in 37 2/3 innings.

In 2004, showing no lingering effects from shoulder surgery, Koplove appeared in a career-high 76 games. He also logged a career-best 86 2/3 relief innings, the sixth-highest total in the National League that season. From April 23 to May 14, he posted a 0.66 ERA over a 12-appearance stretch, holding opponents to a .174 average (8-for-46). He recorded his first major league save on June 30 against San Diego. In August, Koplove was dominant. He registered a 0.52 ERA across 13 appearances and limited opposing hitters to a .158 average. From August 14–31, opponents went just 3-for-36 (.083) against him.

Despite that stretch of dominance, September brought a brief setback. From September 4–14, Koplove went 0–2 with a 10.50 ERA. He surrendered a solo home run to Barry Bonds on September 12, the 699th of Bonds’ career. However, he finished the season on a strong note, yielding only one run over his final 9 1/3 innings across six appearances.

On June 7, 2005, Koplove made his 200th big-league appearance. Two days later, he was optioned to Tucson, where he made four appearances and posted a 3.60 ERA. He briefly returned to Arizona on June 18 before being optioned back to Tucson on August 13.

In 2006, Koplove made 48 appearances for Tucson, where he worked primarily as a set-up reliever. From June 22 to August 11, he logged 14 consecutive scoreless outings covering 20 1/3 innings. He made just two appearances at the top level that season. He was designated for assignment on August 5 and returned to Tucson on August 9.

Koplove became a free agent on October 31, 2006, and signed with the Florida Marlins in December. He attended spring training but was released on March 27, a few days prior to Opening Day.

Two days later, he signed a minor-league contract with the Cleveland Indians. Koplove spent most of the 2007 season with Buffalo (AAA) in the International League, as he led the Bisons in ERA (2.50) and recorded a career-high 14 saves. He held opponents scoreless in 41 of his 51 appearances. He would eventually appear in five games for Cleveland,  where he pitched 6 innings before electing free agency on October 29, 2007.

Koplove signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers on December 18, 2007, and reported to spring training as a non-roster invitee. He spent the 2008 season with Las Vegas (AAA), where he made 41 appearances. On June 6 against Tucson, he recorded the second hit of his professional career, a three-run home run.

On November 28, 2008, Koplove signed with the Phillies. His hometown team never had pursued him before, so when he finally heard “Phillies,” the opportunity was difficult to turn down. “Making the team would be a dream come true. But it’s not something I take for granted. There’s a lot of work to do. I’m enjoying being in the organization but my goal is being on the big-league team,” he admitted.38

The move also generated excitement at home. “My family is excited. I had to tell my mom [Lorraine] to relax, that I hadn’t made the team. It’s exciting, but I’m trying to keep everyone in check. I’ve played long enough to know that, sure, it’s Philadelphia, but it’s really just another spring training where I’m trying to win a job.” Entering camp, he knew the bullpen competition would be strong, noting, “As far as relievers go, this is the most experienced spring training I’ve been at. It will be a challenge for any of us. But it will still be fun.”39

Koplove was released by the Phillies on June 1 after going 1–3 with Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Four days later, he signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates and continued his season in Triple A for Indianapolis. On August 5, the Pirates traded him to the Seattle Mariners. He finished the 2009 season with a third Triple-A affiliate, Tacoma. Combined, he went 5–4 with 11 saves and a 1.87 ERA over 72 1/3 innings.

Koplove was granted free agency that offseason before re-signing with the Mariners on December 16. Seattle released him on July 2, 2010, after he’d made 22 appearances for Tacoma. The San Diego Padres signed him on August 2, and he went on to pitch 14 2/3 innings for the Portland Beavers of the Pacific Coast League. That same year, Koplove was inducted into the CHA Athletic Hall of Fame.40

Granted free agency in November, Koplove re-signed with the Padres on February 4, 2011. He did not make the club’s roster in spring training and was released in March.41

Later that year, at age 34, Koplove joined the Camden Riversharks of the independent Atlantic League. With that club – based just across the Delaware River from Philadelphia – he logged 48 innings and finished 3–2 with a 3.19 ERA. It marked the final season of his professional playing career.

Across 14 professional seasons, including seven in the majors, 12 in the minors, and one in indie ball, Koplove compiled a 54–32 record with a 3.30 ERA over 696 appearances. He finished his career with 888 innings pitched, 767 strikeouts, and a 1.266 WHIP.

After his playing career concluded, Koplove spent six seasons on the scouting staff of the Anaheim Angels. He joined the Phillies as a special assignment scout prior to the 2018 season. In 2019, following Johnny Almarez’s decision to step down as the Phillies’ scouting director, Koplove was one of three internal candidates interviewed for the position.42

In 2019, he was inducted into the Philadelphia Sports Jewish Hall of Fame, and in 2020 he was inducted into the City All-Star Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.43

Koplove is married to Samantha Cicero; they have two children. He remains a special assignment scout for the Phillies.44 His continued work in scouting ensures that the next generation of players sees what he always believed: talent can come from anywhere, and determination can take you everywhere.

Last revised: May 20, 2026

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to Mike Koplove for his input (email exchanges with the author, December 19, 2025, and April 2, 2026).

This biography was reviewed by Rory Costello and Mike Eisenbath and checked for accuracy by SABR’s fact-checking team.

Sources

In addition to the sources cited in the Notes, the author consulted baseball-reference.com, mlb.com, and baseball-almanac.com.

Notes

1 Ted Silary, “Major Achievement for D’Backs’ Koplove,” Philadelphia Daily News, September 10, 2001:111.

2 Jim Salisbury, “Pitching for the Home Team,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, February 20, 2009:C01.

3 Edward de la Fuente, “Ex-Blue Hen Koplove Comes Home with D’Backs,” The News Journal (Wilmington, Delaware), May 13, 2003:21.

4 Salisbury, “Pitching for the Home Team.”

5 Steve Koplove has a distinguished baseball story of his own. A lawyer by profession, he has spent more than 35 years coaching youth baseball and built one of the region’s most respected development pipelines. He operated the Philadelphia Senators travel program, which produced more than 50 college players and more than 25 professional players from the Philadelphia and tri-state area. Today, Steve and his youngest son, Kenny, run Philadelphia Area Baseball, a training center that offers instruction and travel-ball opportunities for young athletes.

6 Kenny Koplove, 17 years Mike’s junior, played four seasons in the minor leagues with the Phillies, Marlins, and Rockies organizations, reaching Triple-A.

7 “Chestnut Hill Still Flawless in Florida,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, March 24, 1994:49.

8 Nick Fierro, “Koplove’s Control Bedevils His Foes,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, May 5, 1995:60.

9 Fierro, “Koplove’s Control Bedevils His Foes.”

10 “Michael P. Koplove ’95,” Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, https://www.sch.org/article/hall-of-fame-profiles/~board/alumni-spotlight/post/michael-p-koplove.

11 Scott Lauber, “Koplove Ready to Answer Call,” The News Journal (Wilmington, Delaware), March 28, 2009:29.

12 Lauber, “Koplove Ready to Answer Call.”

13 de la Fuente, “Ex-Blue Hen Koplove Comes Home with D’Backs.”

14 Ted Silary, “Expos Ink Malvern’s McKinley,” Philadelphia Daily News, June 4, 1998:67.

15 The Delaware Blue Hens would advance to the NCAA Atlantic II Regional at Florida State before ultimately falling to Oklahoma University and Florida State University.

16 Silary, “Expos Ink Malvern’s McKinley.”

17 Silary, “Expos Ink Malvern’s McKinley.”

18 Mike Koplove, interview by author, December 19, 2025.

19 de la Fuente, “Ex-Blue Hen Koplove Comes Home with D’Backs.”

20 de la Fuente, “Ex-Blue Hen Koplove Comes Home with D’Backs.”

21 Ted Silary, “In Minors, He’s Doing Some Nice Work on the Side,” Philadelphia Daily News, June 17, 1999:102.

22 Silary, “In Minors, He’s Doing Some Nice Work on the Side.”

23 Silary, “Major Achievement for D’Backs’ Koplove.” In this article, the newspaper incorrectly identifies Koplove’s sister as “Amanda;” her correct name is Andrea.

24 Silary, “Major Achievement for D’Backs’ Koplove.”

25 Silary, “Major Achievement for D’Backs’ Koplove.”

26 Silary, “Major Achievement for D’Backs’ Koplove.”

27 Silary, “Major Achievement for D’Backs’ Koplove.”

28 Koplove interview #2.

29 Koplove interview #2.

30 Fuente, “Ex-Blue Hen Koplove Comes Home with D’Backs.”

31 Fuente, “Ex-Blue Hen Koplove Comes Home with D’Backs.”

32 Fuente, “Ex-Blue Hen Koplove Comes Home with D’Backs.”

33 Fuente, “Ex-Blue Hen Koplove Comes Home with D’Backs.”

34 Packer Park is a South Philadelphia neighborhood bordered by the Schuylkill Expressway, South Broad Street, and FDR Park, originally built through a series of cul-de-sac developments in the 1950s and 1960s and later expanded into what are now four distinct residential sections: the Reserve, the Villas, the Regency, and Siena Place

35 Todd Zolecki, “Schilling Lobs Praise at Former Team,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, May 14, 2003: E05.

36 Mark Gonzales, “A Homecoming for Koplove,” The Arizona Republic, May 13, 2003:21.

37 The surgery revealed fraying in the labrum and minor fraying in the rotator cuff.

38 Salisbury, “Pitching for the Home Team.”

39 Salisbury, “Pitching for the Home Team.”

40 “Michael P. Koplove ’95.”

41 Baseball America. “Mike Koplove Stats & Scouting Report.” BaseballAmerica.com. https://www.baseballamerica.com/players/678493-mike-koplove/

42 Jim Salisbury, “Philadelphia native Mike Koplove emerges as strong candidate for Phillies’ scouting director job,” NBC Sports Philadelphia, October 14, 2019, https://www.nbcsportsphiladelphia.com/mlb/philadelphia-native-mike-koplove-emerges-as-strong-candidate-for-phillies-scouting-director-job/398385/. The job ultimately went to Brian Barber, hired in October 2019 after spending the previous 18 seasons with the New York Yankees in a variety of scouting roles

43 “Michael P. Koplove ’95.”

44 Koplove interview.