The White Sox scratched prime catching prospect Kyle Teel from at the moment’s Triple-A lineup and plan to advertise him to the majors, experiences Chris Cotillo of MassLive. The group has not made the transfer official, however the social media account for TeelsBaseball — a coaching facility run by his father Garett — has introduced the call-up. Chicago might want to choose his contract and make corresponding strikes for the lively and 40-man rosters.
It’s an thrilling day for White Sox followers. Teel was the centerpiece of the Garrett Crochet return. (Chase Meidroth was the primary prospect from the group to debut and has performed his technique to on a regular basis work within the center infield.) Boston’s first-round decide in 2023, Teel has ranked among the many sport’s most gifted catching prospects all through his time in professional ball.
The College of Virginia product was primarily the consensus #4 prospect within the Crimson Sox’s system. He was behind Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell and Marcelo Mayer however was seen as one of many sport’s 50 or so finest minor leaguers in his personal proper. Teel ranked between thirty second and 52nd on the preseason lists at MLB Pipeline, ESPN and Baseball America. He slotted forty second on BA’s most up-to-date in-season replacewhich got here out this week.
Baseball America now ranks Teel because the White Sox’s #2 prospect and their prime place participant expertise. The left-handed hitter has a well-rounded profile that offers him probability to be a long-term starter behind the plate. He has been significantly good offensively all through his minor league profession. Teel has a .300/.401/.456 batting line in professional ball. He has stored up the same tempo throughout his first season within the Chicago system.
Teel has performed 50 video games this 12 months with Triple-A Charlotte. He carries a .295/.394/.492 slash with eight residence runs by 213 plate appearances. As he has all through his profession, he’s taking free passes at a wonderful 14.1% clip. Teel has struck out a bit of greater than 1 / 4 of the time, however the total manufacturing has been sturdy. He was on fireplace all through the previous month, hitting .333/.444/.613 in Might after posting a .626 OPS in April.
There isn’t a complete lot left for Teel to show in opposition to minor league pitching. He’ll in all probability strike out a good quantity within the majors, however his plate self-discipline ought to give him a stable on-base ground. The Sox are actually going to have him within the lineup on most days, although it’ll be fascinating to see how they deploy him defensively. Scouting experiences recommend he’s a stable defensive catcher.
The Sox have already got a touted rookie catcher in Edgar Quero, who started the season taking part in alongside Teel in Charlotte. He and Korey Lee are splitting the work behind the plate. The switch-hitting Quero isn’t hitting for any energy, however he’s batting .250 with a .341 on-base share in 37 video games. He has hit at each minor league cease and deserves continued taking part in time. Lee is unlikely to be greater than a long-term backup, however the White Sox in all probability received’t need to carry solely two rookie catchers.
Teel stated this week that he has begun taking first base drills. He has not performed wherever apart from catcher in a minor league recreation. Teel may combine in at first base, the place the Sox have gotten nothing all season. They’ll in all probability additionally use each rookie catchers considerably steadily at designated hitter. That’d push Andrew Benintendi into extra of a full-time left discipline function whereas slicing the taking part in time for journeyman outfielder Joshua Palacios.
As a consensus Prime 100 expertise, Teel meets the eligibility for the Prospect Promotion Incentive. Which means he may earn a full service 12 months if he completed within the prime two in AL Rookie of the Yr balloting. The A’s Jacob Wilson could have already locked up a type of spots, however there’s not less than an outdoor probability for Teel to play properly sufficient to get consideration for the opposite. The White Sox wouldn’t obtain a bonus draft selection if that occurs as a result of they didn’t promote him early sufficient to spend 172 days within the majors. If he doesn’t earn the total service 12 months, Teel will stay beneath membership management for not less than six seasons past this one. He possible wouldn’t attain arbitration eligibility till the 2028-29 offseason.
Picture courtesy of Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Photographs.
