Teel's Return Sparks White Sox
White Sox Activate Kyle Teel for Guardians Series, Expecting Offensive Impact
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Key Points
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Teel’s Charlotte rehab stint produced an 8-for-16 (.500) line with one homer and four RBIs across four games, highlighted by a five-hit game and a 5-for-6 performance on Friday at Buffalo.
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During ramp-up Teel sustained an LCL knee sprain that extended his time on the IL after an initial hamstring strain, delaying his return.
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In 2025 Teel’s rookie season, he slashed .273/.375/.411 with 11 doubles and 35 RBIs in 78 games, and he led the White Sox in batting average (.288) and on-base percentage (.376) after the All-Star break.
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Quero has slumped to .187/.253/.233 with two home runs and 15 RBIs in 55 games, and Sox catchers have combined for a mere .167 batting average, .241 OBP, and .268 slugging this season.
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Sox manager Will Venable teased that Teel could be back as soon as Monday, signaling confidence in his readiness.
The Chicago White Sox activated catcher Kyle Teel from the 60-day injured list on June 22, ending a four-month absence that stretched back to a hamstring strain at the World Baseball Classic in March. Teel hit .500 (8-for-16) with one home run and four RBIs across four rehab games with Triple-A Charlotte, including a 5-for-6 performance on Friday in Buffalo, according to Rotowire.
The move comes at a critical moment. Chicago sits just one game behind the division-leading Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central, and the Guardians are set to visit Guaranteed Rate Field this week. Manager Will Venable wasted no time spelling out Teel's role. "Teel brings a presence and a competitive fire that's hard to replicate," Venable said. "We won't hesitate to put him right back in the primary role," per MLB.com.
A Rocky Road Back From Two Separate Injuries
Teel's path back was anything but smooth. On March 10, he suffered a Grade 2 right hamstring strain while playing for Team Italy in the WBC, according to MLB.com. Just as he was ramping back up, disaster struck again. On May 16, during his first official rehab game with Triple-A Charlotte, he sprained the lateral collateral ligament (LCL) in his right knee while sliding into second base.
The White Sox moved him to the 60-day injured list on May 19 to clear a roster spot, pushing his return to late June at the earliest, per Sox On 35th. When Teel finally restarted his rehab on June 16, he announced himself immediately — homering on the very first pitch he saw against the Buffalo Bisons.
Chicago's Catching Situation Was an Offensive Disaster
Without Teel, White Sox catchers combined for a .167 batting average, .241 on-base percentage, and .268 slugging — a historically poor performance. Edgar Quero, Teel's primary replacement, slashed just .187/.253/.233 with two home runs and 15 RBIs in 55 games. White Sox catchers graded out at a combined 45 wRC+ during the stretch, ranking last in MLB, according to Sox Machine.
"The position has been a mess without him," analyst Jim Margalus of Sox Machine wrote, noting that only elite defense could excuse that kind of offense — and Chicago had neither. Quero was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte on Monday to make room. The team framed the move as a "developmental reset" for the 23-year-old, according to NBC Sports.
Teel's 2025 Numbers Show Why Chicago Missed Him
In his 2025 rookie season, Teel slashed .273/.375/.411 with 11 doubles and 35 RBIs in 78 games. After the All-Star break, he led the entire White Sox roster in both batting average (.288) and on-base percentage (.376), per Sox Machine. His 12.5% walk rate and 23.7% chase rate ranked him among the most disciplined young hitters in the game, according to Sports Illustrated.
Teel came to Chicago in the December 2024 trade that sent ace Garrett Crochet to the Boston Red Sox, along with outfielder Braden Montgomery and second baseman Chase Meidroth, per MLB Trade Rumors. Crochet has thrived in Boston, but Teel's 2025 debut gave White Sox fans reason to believe the trade was worth it.
Teel Returns Just as a Tigers Sweep Shook the Division
Chicago's timing couldn't be better — or worse, depending on the angle. The White Sox entered last weekend in first place in the AL Central but were swept in three games by the Detroit Tigers. The sweep dropped them one game behind Cleveland heading into the week, per the Associated Press.
Teel is expected to start immediately against the Guardians, with Drew Romo serving as his backup. After his final rehab game, Teel told reporters: "The rehab was long, but I feel stronger now than I did in February. I'm ready to help this team win the Central," according to Sox Machine. For a team one game out and in desperate need of a spark behind the plate, that is exactly what they wanted to hear.
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