White Sox catcher Kyle Teel has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 right hamstring strain and could be out anywhere between four and six weeks, per Scott Merkin of MLB.com. He’ll open the season on the 10-day injured list.
Teel, 24, suffered the injury last night when legging out a double in Italy’s upset win over the United States in the World Baseball Classic. He ran hard out of the box and pulled up limping shortly after rounding the first base bag (video link). Teel was visibly frustrated when standing on second base, clearly aware that he’d an injury of some note. He left the field with the training staff, albeit under his own power.
It’s a sour note on which to end Teel’s WBC run and on which to begin his 2026 season. The 2023 first-rounder headlined the prospect package the White Sox received when trading Garrett Crochet to the Red Sox last offseason and quickly broke out as what looks like Chicago’s catcher of the future. Teel played in 78 games last year, tallied 297 plate appearances and batted .273/.375/.411 with eight homers, 11 doubles and a huge 12.5% walk rate. His defense could use some improvement, but the lefty-swinging Teel looks the part of a big league catcher with strong offense for the position.
With Teel sidelined, the South Siders will open the season with Edgar Quero and Korey Lee as their catching tandem. Quero, like Teel, is a trade acquisition and former top prospect, coming to the Sox by way of the 2023 Lucas Giolito/Reynaldo Lopez trade with the Angels. The Cuban-born Quero is a switch-hitter who logged a respectable .268/.333/.356 slash (95 wRC+) in 403 plate appearances last year, though his glovework drew particularly poor grades; he caught only 15.8% of attempted thieves on the basepaths and graded as one of the worst pitch framers in the game.
Teel’s injury means Quero will open the season in a starting role and look to improve on both his power output and his defensive acumen behind the plate. Lee is another former first-round pick whom the Astros added in a trade (Kendall Graveman, 2023). He profiles strictly as a backup at this point, having slashed .195/.237/.325 with 14 homers in 504 plate appearances with the Sox — but only a 5.2% walk rate and a gaudy 29.6% strikeout rate. Lee has nabbed nearly one-quarter of runners who’ve attempted to steal against him since being traded to Chicago, but he’s drawn below-average grades for his framing and his efforts to block balls in the dirt.
The injury to Teel allows the White Sox to kick the can down the road a bit when it comes to a decision on their catching corps. Teel and Quero seem like the clear long-term candidates at the position, while the 27-year-old Lee (28 in July) is out of minor league options. He’ll now have at least a bit of runway to make a case that he deserves to stay on the roster once Teel is healthy, but Lee’s hold on a roster spot alongside a healthy Teel and Quero looks tenuous at best. Drew Romo, a former top prospect with the Rockies, is also in camp as non-roster depth if the Sox incur further injuries among their catching group.
Still, trade Lee asap and give Quero lots of playing time and spell him with Romo who is a better batter than Lee.
No
Hate to hear it for our Italian Stallion.
The White Sox will no longer have to consider carrying 3 catchers to open the 2026 season. The injury to Kyle Teel could potentially open up a roster spot for highly regarded “Italian” INF Sam Antonacci who’s been looking more and more like a “Stallion” since his appearance in the AFL late last season. 😮
Antonnaci has options. Hope this opens up a path for Kelenic and Wade. Sox need to look at Nishida and Bergolla as well this spring,they are reallyjgood batters.
Options don’t really come into play with any of the players you mentioned. Rated proscpects Sam Antonacci and William Bergolla Jr. are MLB NRI’s who have yet appear on the White sox 40-man roster. Rikuu Nishida is an unraked prospect who isn’t an NRI but has garnered a few Cactus League PA’s while in the White Sox minor league camp.
Jarred Kelenic (26) and LaMonte Wade Jr. (32) are MLB veterans who signed minor league deals and were invited to MLB camp.
The players on the 40-man roster who are vying for a 26-man spot that are out of options aside from Korey Lee are Luisangel Acuña, Derek Hill, Curtis Mead and Everson Pereira.
Lenyn Sosa and Miguel Vargas are also out of options but not in danger of being left off of an opening day roster spot short of an injury or a trade.
Thank you for this, well, this does leave the door open for Curtis Meade, Hills bat is not MLB material. Pereira k to bb is not good, not sure if he will make it. So Kelenic and Wade could make opening day roster anyways. Baldwin makes alot of mental mistakes.
You left off Tristan Peters, who has options i believe.
@ Chisox378
Luisangel Acuña would also be considered a lock aside from being the main component in the return for Luis Robert Jr. He’s currently earmarked to replace Robert Jr. as the White Sox starting CF. He also adds great versatility with his ability to play solid defense at SS, 2B and 3B. His speed would also be an asset as a potential White Sox core piece down the road. If the White Sox find a more impacting CF down the road, Acuña could still be an important bench presence when they look to contend. As a utility type player, I see the floor of Leury Garcia and perhaps the ceiling of Tony Phillips.
I’d also give Curtis Mead a solid chance of cracking the White Sox opening day roster. I’d gamble on still young former top prospects like Acuña and Mead as potential future core pieces over aging veterans like Jarred Kelenic and LaMonte Wade Jr. as the White Sox near their contention window.
I have already counted Acuna as the starting every day CF. Wade although older is a different animal as he doesn’t strikeout and puts up good at bats, he is a major league batter. Kelenic may need more work but could surprise and reach his better potential.
Kelenic is only one year older than Mead, is the same age as Vargas, and had a prospect pedigree far eclipsing those guys.
I don’t think they were going to personally so this guarantees Lee a spot
Sucks for the White Sox.
Mike – Sucks more for Teel, he coulda been a WBC hero leading Italia to even more epic upsets.
I know, not likely ….. but ya never know!
Do you happen to know how Teel is on team Italy? I thought the rules were liberal but a player’s surname has to end in a vowel.
Kyle Teel’s mother’s maiden name is Janine LiButti. Aside from being half-Italian, Teel also has a strong set of athletic genetics.
Kyle’s dad, Garett Teel, used to play professional baseball. The Los Angeles Dodgers had picked Garett in the 12th round of the 1989 MLB Draft—yes! He played catcher at the minor levels, where he learned a lot about the game. Not only did he play baseball, but Garett also coached. And as of now, he runs a training facility called TeelsBaseball.*
Teel’s mom also has extensive athletic experience. Janine was a great softball player at William Paterson University in New Jersey. Her name appears 14 times in the university’s softball record books.*
Excerpts from: essentiallysports.com/mlb-baseball-news-who-are-ky…
Always fun to read Aaron’s posts.
Brutal..
Too many shots with boys yesterday
Uh, wot?
There was a whole thing about team Italy having espresso shots.
Meow – I wonder if he was doing the traditional naked dry swings in the Italia clubhouse? Mamma Mia!
Kyle Teel was born in New Jersey, grew up in New Jersey, and went to college in Virginia so I’m not sure how much traditional Italian anything he has. Team “Italy” roster is funny like that.
Meow – His Great Great Grandfather was born in Potenza. It’s not a Jersey Shore thing, MBL actually enforces the eligibility of players.
He was talking out loud about how it would be cool sto play in the WBC one day and someone from Italy heard him and made it happen
What was he thinking? He’s a catcher, they never leg out doubles!
even injured he still beat the throw from some aaron judge
WBC injury, Great!
I guarantee more injuries happen during spring training, than in a few weeks of the WBC
“more injuries happen during spring training”
2000 players playing for 6 weeks in ST vs 300 playing for 2 weeks in the WBC. You think?
All I’ll say is a starting catcher (Teel) would not be “legging out a double” like that in ST. Look, I enjoy the WBC, but its done far too soon into the season.
Nah. Timing is fine. Best option. The players are loving it, like they always do. The whole thing is great for the game. Disgruntled MLB fans just need to try and find a little bit of selflessness.
“find a little bit of selflessness”
Not wanting people to get hurt is bad?
Wanting the WBC to be played before players are up to full strength, and risking injuries. Maybe those are the ones who should be ‘trying to find a little bit of selflessness’.
As I said before ‘I enjoy the WBC’, but it should be played later. The regular season is too long as it is, carving out 2 or 3 weeks in April or May, once every four years, would be the way to do it. But, owners arent going to let anything cut into their bottom line, even though it would help the game in the long-term.
Oh please. You selfless caring person you !
They want to play. They want to take the injury risk. They are happy to play it now. End of story. Fans need to stop crying about the possible effect on their mlb experience.
Do you not remember you were the one that introduced the “selfless” BS. I spun your snarky comment back on you and now youre mad. Please.
“stop crying”
I’m not mad. That’s in your head.
It wasn’t snarky. It’s reality. Many MLB fans can’t deal with the fact that something baseball that is awesome, is not all about them. It’s as plain as day. No snark there. Just reality.
The players are happy. They love it. They also know about injury risk.
It’s all good. There is no problem there.
Exactly- Lindor, Carroll, Greene, Wentz are just a few that come to mind.
Lindor – Before WBC started
Carroll – Before WBC started
Greene – Injury carried over from 2025
You seriously dont realize that playing thousands of extra innings of baseball played in Spring Training wouldnt give more opportunities for injuries and skewer any one-to-one comparison.
Spring training is spring training, WBC is players playing hard and all out only after a bit of conditioning before it.
if it were at the end of the season, more players would be injured and the talent pool would be substantially slimmed out already. mlb would never allow it midseason, the olympics is already contentious enough. each nation has the best chance to compete prior to the season. plus, it draws more fans in right before the start of the season, gives some guys a chance to play competitive baseball that wouldnt otherwise see that (michael lorenzen and the electrician come to mind).
pohle:
“end of season” – That makes no sense, and no one said it.
This is what I said in a post 4 above yours: “The regular season is too long as it is, carving out 2 or 3 weeks in April or May, once every four years”
So everything you said is irrelevant to my point.
—
Everyone seems to want to reinterpret what I say:
1) “I like the WBC”
2) “I want it to continue”
3) “It should be at the start of the season (either April or May), not the second week of ST”
4) “But, it wont happen, because it carves into MLB revenue, even though it would benefit the game of baseball over all”
Get well soon. There goes my starting dynasty league catcher.
Just out of curiosity, are you a Mets or Phillies fan?
I know this could have happened in Spring Training, but I’m still not a fan of the WBC. Hopefully he heals up fully, no need to rush him back.
Maybe the WBC shiuld be after the World Series.
Its a tough call either way.
Idea of WBC *before* if the guys involved report to ST early, have a minicamp, then roll into the tourney which replaces some of their ST appearances. Not a huge change in workload or season length, just a bit extra intensity.
If you went after the WS, youd have tons of players who didnt play an inning for weeks or a month before the WBC started.
That would be a problem, including for guys in countries that play a shorter season…
Are you going to force WBC guys to play fall training pickup games between the end of September and November? You’ll hurt pitchers, BAD. Heck, even one would miss out on the offseason to let all those minor injuries they play with all season heal up.
Also, WBC in the fall competes with the NFL and college football, which is a losing proposition as well
GaSox – Yeah why should players devote 2 weeks of their offseason, rather than during ST? That’s like telling your boss “Sure I’ll work Saturday and Sunday even though I already worked Monday thru Friday.”
Not to mention the fact a LOT of players wouldn’t be on a contract after the World Series, which means if they get injured they are screwed.
And honestly from a fan perspective, after watching an exciting postseason and World Series who would get excited about a tournament after that? It’s like watching AC/DC’s supporting band perform after AC/DC instead of before them.
Metallica opened for ACDC
One reason I’m hoping for the very specific “Mexico beats Italy while scoring fewer than 5 runs” scenario is to get Roman Anthony out of the tournament and back in team camp.
Not sure about that, I think this is good for him. He’s holding his own on a bigger stage. He’s leading team USA in RBIs. Think of it as he’s getting a chance to learn for other all stars that he wouldn’t get to normally.
As a whole the Red Sox as doing some good things on the international stage. Duran is crushing it with Mexico. Yoshida has been Japan’s best hitter not named Ohtani. Weissert has a couple of big saves for Italy. It’s encouraging to see.
Seiya says hello
And Yoshida reminds him which one has more hits and RBIs.
Meow – No love for Duran? ;O)
Duran didn’t miss the last month of the season last year with an oblique injury.
Meow – Fair point, although one could argue playing OF alongside Rafaela in ST is far more dangerous ;O)
I’m sure he’ll be fine. No need to rush back too soon.
last wbc, altuve missed 2 months with injury. e diaz missed the entire season.
now j pena is out with broken finger.
teel’s out 6 weeks with hamstring strain.
please for the love of god get rid of this tournament once and for all and stop endangering players!
These injuries could just as well happen in a spring training game.
Its not like he got hit like Crosby. The injuries you mentioned are all non-contact injuries that could have happened anytime
Altuve and Pena are both very much contact injuries.
If it makes money, the ones running this boondoggle do not care
There’s MLB data on this that shows the percentage of players on 40 man rosters who start the year on on the IL from the WBC is less than the players in spring training. Pitchers are especially more likely to get hurt in spring training, 12.5% vs 5.5% in the WBC in 2017.
It just seems like players get hurt more in the WBC because when Edwin Diaz tears his knee in a freak celebration injury, or Altuve gets hit by a pitch, that’s super memorable. There’s been multiple lesser known pitchers in spring training going down but they’re often not big names and the games aren’t as widely televised
Trade him back to the Red Sox
Maybe for Crochet
Id trade Teel, great opportunity here with him out four to six weeks with a hamstring. Fresh off a triumphant WBC win.
Im all for sending Teel and Shane Smith to the Marlins for Joe Mack, Estuary Ruiz, Kemp Alderman and Joey Volini.
Marlins might make that trade in this moment with Ruiz having a terrible spring.
Teel isn’t getting traded. And Estuary Ruiz has next to zero value to a first division team.
Hope Lee plays well early to have some trade value when Teel returns. Turn a negative into a positive.
Since the USA needs Mexico to blow out Italy, I suppose this is good news.
Sucks for CWS fans, but they have bigger worries than an injured catcher for the first month of the season.
This is an example of why Manfred’s desire to shut down the season for 3 weeks while MLB players compete in the Olympics is a bad idea. Injuries happen but injuries happening while playing exhibitions in the middle of the pennant races would be disastrous for the game
Injuries happen regardless. Some even happen when players get out of bed in the morning… or sneezing.
Saying Teel wouldn’t have been injured if he was in the White Sox ST camp is the equivalent of making predictions with a magic 8 ball. H could have just as easily tried leg out a double during a ST game and had the same results. You just don’t know.
Exactly, it’s really hard to predict when an injury happens regardless of your injury history. It’s virtually impossible to go into a season with exactly your OD roster.
The difference being its highly unlikely he is legging out a double in ST.
I guess
You sure about that? These guys are competitive people. Especially the young ones who want to prove they belong. Many of them want to make sure they don’t look lazy in front of their manager and coaches. For some of the young prospects this is their first real chance to be evaluated by the big league manager in person.
Yes, Teel isn’t exactly in that category of needing to impress a major league manager for the first time but he is in competition to be the White Sox primary catcher. Hard to imagine he wouldn’t try to give it all during a ST game.
Trying for the primary catching position? Please… He is the Sox primary catcher, its not even close.. Want to impress a manager? When you are guaranteed a spot, don’t go and get yourself hurt in meaningless games. The last numbskull that was trying hard in ST for the Sox (That was guaranteed a spot) was Jimenez hurting his chest trying to jump 20 ft to catch a home run.
If a player is on a bubble, I see it. Trying make an impression to a team that barely knows you past A ball? Sure… A guy who is locked into the roster? No. If they the are getting hurt trying to leg out a double in a ST game, any good manager should lambast them. They need guys healthy for the season first and foremost. You bust your butt in actual games that matter, not meaningless ST games where your conditioning and timing matters most for a position player.
Rsox – Injuries happening by celebrating exhibition wins would be disastrous too, ask the Mets.
It would not be disastrous for the game.
It wouldn’t be ideal for affected mlb fans, but I’m sure if you man up everyone will cope just fine. The exposure from an Olympics tournament would outweigh any injury negative for the game.
Exhibition game ? Really ? The Olympics ? Not many athletes don’t want to compete at an Olympics. An Olympic gold medal is just about the pinnacle of world sport. “Exhibition game” is an ignorant description.
Casual fan interest in the Olympics would be huge. That’s normally the fine if year they are waiting for playoff races to take shape.
MLB players will get tons more exposure playing Olympic Games vs regular season games.
Actually, if Italy beats Mexico the US team advances as the 2nd place team. Mexico is 2-1 while Italy is 3-0.
Mexico is eliminated at this point. No need to even finish the game
The Sox have the rare privilege and example of why having catching depth is a luxury this century.
Yes-yet no one in starting rotation that one can feel confident will be above average (incl OD nod Shane Smith).
The rotation is ok at best for now, but we also can’t rule out H Smith, Noah Schultz, or Tanner McDougal and possibly unknown arms debuting at some point in the season too.
No big deal. This gives Quero some more plate appearances against RHP to see if his left-handed swing will be viable at the highest level. A .602 OPS simply won’t cut it.
Good thing they kept Romo and he didn’t get claimed for the 800th time.
Well at least it happened now, the problem is these Injuries are nagging. I can only imaging doubly so for a catcher.
Quero has six weeks to prove his capabilities.
Ok? Quero and Teel are catching/DH for parts of last season while carrying Korey Lee as a 3rd catcher.