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Chicago White Sox's Kopech gradually coming to grips with situation

GLENDALE, Ariz. - Michael Kopech is throwing in Chicago White Sox training camp.

He's running sprints with the rest of the pitching staff, taking groundballs, working out and seemingly getting himself ready for the upcoming season.

Don't be fooled.

"I know I made a couple comments (last) week that I could maybe pitch if I needed to," Kopech said Saturday morning at Camelback Ranch. "That probably isn't realistic. But I do feel really good right now, and I'm just trying to take it day by day."

The Sox's top pitching prospect last season, Kopech joined the rotation from Class AAA Charlotte in late August and looked very good, allowing 1 earned run in 11 innings over 3 starts, 2 of them cut short by rain delays.

The 22-year-old righty looked bad in his fourth outing, allowing 7 runs in 3⅓ innings during a Sept. 5 start against the Detroit Tigers. Kopech felt elbow discomfort in the game and wound up having Tommy John surgery.

While he is able to throw off flat ground, the 6-foot-3, 205-pounder has been ruled out for the entire season.

"It's kind of tough right now, but I'm making the most out of it," Kopech said. "I say it's tough, but it's really not tough, physically. It's just the mental part of not being able to go out there and do what I usually do.

"But to see these guys go out there and get ready to compete, it's still a lot of fun."

Kopech had a strong support system this off-season. He moved from his native Texas to Hermosa Beach, California, where he lived with White Sox rotation mate Lucas Giolito and Atlanta Braves left-hander Max Fried.

Giolito and Fried went to high school together (Harvard-Westlake) and both have made successful recoveries from Tommy John surgery.

"I was able to talk to them quite a bit," Kopech said. "It makes things easier to have someone who's gone through it every step of the way, just kind of pattern yourself after that."

Kopech learned more of what's to come from Sox reliever Jace Fry, who also had the reconstructive elbow procedure.

"Just know that there's going to be a wall," Kopech said. "Everyone talks about how there's a wall where you feel like you can't do it anymore.

"I just know there's going to be a wall, and get over it. I'm kind of taking it day by day, just expect what's to come, but I'm not really sure, either. So I feel good, but I know there will be a point where I don't."

Trimmed down:

With Yonder Alonso and Jose Abreu set to split time between first base and designated hitter this season, Daniel Palka spent his winter getting ready to play one of the corner outfield spots.

"The whole off-season, we were working on defense and small footwork stuff just to get more mobile," Palka said. "We cut a bunch of weight, I lost about 17, 18 pounds. I ate right, ran a lot. We did a lot more sprint work this year than I've ever done.

"Just wanted to come back and be ready to play in the outfield every day. Whether we have 18 DHs or not, I wanted to be able to say 'hey, if I'm going to contribute on the team, I need to be in the outfield every day and playing a position.' "

Claimed off waivers from the Minnesota Twins in November 2017, Palka had a big offensive season for the White Sox last year, tying for first among American League rookies with 27 home runs and ranking third with 67 RBI.

Final day:

White Sox pitchers and catchers have one more day of work before the entire squad reports Monday.

With Yoan Moncada checking in Saturday, Jose Abreu was the lone regular not in camp.

"I'm ready to see them all here," manager Rick Renteria said. "It's at that point now. I want to start talking. My message is forget last year. This is a new year.

"You knew over the winter what you're working on, you know how you're going to approach this coming season. Stay focused and maintain the routine and understand the work that you're doing and go play the games."

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