Giolito has firsthand advice for Kopech

Michael Kopech and Lucas Giolito already were friends but now they have a new topic of conversation — Tommy John surgery.

“I talked to him about it yesterday,” Giolito said Saturday. “Plenty.”

Kopech’s damaged ulnar collateral ligament, which was revealed in an exam Friday, is an emotional blow for the White Sox. His arrival had brought a buzz to Guaranteed Rate Field that will be missed as he most likely undergoes reconstructive elbow surgery that will sideline him until 2020. Though he plans to get a second opinion on the diagnosis, the outcome isn’t expected to change.

“You take a breath and you have to make an adjustment,” manager Rick Renteria said before Saturday night’s 12-3 loss to the Angels. “We will have to look toward the people we have within the system and obviously some on the outside.”

Giolito was upbeat discussing Kopech’s unwanted challenge.

“We feel bad for him and it sucks for the team,” Giolito said. “We see him as a great teammate first and foremost and secondly as a huge part of the future of this team, the starting pitching staff. It’s unfortunate we’re going to lose him for one year but it’s not the end of the story.”

Giolito had Tommy John surgery in 2012. Extra innings: James Shields was lifted in the fifth, trailing 6-3. Mike Trout homered twice off him. … Jose Abreu took batting practice Saturday and could return as early as Monday after being out since having surgery for testicular torsion on Aug. 21.