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White Sox pitcher Michael Kopech took a step Tuesday in what remains a long recovery from Tommy John surgery, participating in a throwing session for the first time since an elbow injury cut short his debut season.

“Today is like that milestone, that first little hurdle to jump before everything kind of starts to take off,” Kopech says in a video released by the Sox on Tuesday afternoon. Kopech’s session took place at the team’s spring training facility in Glendale, Ariz.

“Ultimately a year from now I know that I’m going to be better because of all of these minor tweaks, and I know that these tweaks are going to be what makes me the type of pitcher I want to become in the future, which is top-of-the-rotation caliber and a pitcher that helps us win a World Series.”

Kopech underwent successful surgery in September to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, but rehabilitation will shelve him for the 2019 season. Kopech remains on track to be ready for spring training in 2020.

During a question-and-answer session at last month’s SoxFest, Kopech told fans: “I think more than likely I’m going to be spending most of the year in Arizona doing my rehab. I’ll probably get to come up to Chicago a few times, get to interact with the team, feel like I’m a part of it still. But for the most part I think I’m going to be in Arizona.”

He also joked with another fan who asked if he would follow Sox broadcaster and former pitcher Ed Farmer’s famous (and dubious) rehab regimen.

“Whether I want to ask Ed for rehab advice or not he’s giving it to me. … I have not picked up a ball and thrown it as hard as I can against the wall, in case anyone’s wondering,” Kopech said with a smile.

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