White Sox top-rated catcher Kyle Teel returns, manager Will Venable 'excited'

Chicago White Sox manager Will Venable remains eager to take advantage of his perceived positional upgrade. 

By activating Kyle Teel from the 60-day injured list ahead of Monday's 6-5, come-from-behind victory over the Cleveland Guardians at Rate Field, the White Sox welcomed the organization's top catcher and power prospect.

The win lifted the White Sox (40-37) into a first-place tie with the Guardians (41-38) in the AL Central.

Teel suffered back-to-back right leg injuries, keeping him from the MLB lineup. While playing for Team Italy during the World Baseball Classic, he suffered a Grade 2 right hamstring strain March 10, costing him the start of the regular season.

While attempting his first comeback last spring, Teel suffered a freak injury while at bat for Triple-A Charlotte. When a cleat stuck in the ground during a swing, he sprained the lateral collateral ligament in his right knee.

When asked by reporters Monday, Teel said he was ready to play "seven days a week," Teel said, as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times. 

Teel was joking, of course, but White Sox manager Will Venable immediately inserted the 24-year-old slugger in the No. 4 spot in the batting order Monday. He went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.

As a rookie last season, Teel slashed .273/.375/.411 with eight home runs in 297 plate appearances. 

"Obviously, he's somebody that make a huge impact in the middle of our lineup," Venable said. "Excited not just to have him in the lineup, but on the field. His energy when he is playing is awesome." 

White Sox welcome back catcher Kyle Teel

Teel had nothing more to prove in the International League.

During his rehabilitation stint at Triple-A Charlotte, Teel slashed .387/.441/.613 with two home runs in 31 at-bats. Teel went 5-for-6 with three runs scored and two RBI against Buffalo last Friday at Sahlen Field. He also caught all nine innings. 

The 2023 No. 14 overall draft pick by the Boston Red Sox, Teel's return provides Venable with a position upgrade. Despite the White Sox's surprise first-half start, they have not received much production from the catcher position, offensively and defensively.

Edgar Quero, who was optioned to Charlotte to make room for Teel, batted just .187 in 150 at-bats. Cather Drew Romo entered Monday batting .144. Both have graded out below average when behind the plate.

Acquired from the Red Sox as part of the pitcher Garrett Crochet deal in 2024, Teel will remain in the middle of the White Sox's lineup and get the majority of starts behind the plate.

Just not "seven days a week."

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