Kyle Teel is back in the Chicago White Sox lineup, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
After limping through a 1-5 road trip that ended with a sweep at the hands of the Detroit Tigers, Chicago enters its series opener against the Cleveland Guardians searching for an offensive spark. The return of one of the organization’s top young bats could provide exactly that.
Teel was reinstated from the 60-day IL on Monday and has yet to play in a major league game this season after suffering a right hamstring strain in the World Baseball Classic. What was initially expected to be a multi-week absence stretched into a much longer recovery after Teel sprained the lateral collateral ligament in his knee during a rehab assignment.
But any concerns about Teel’s knee appear to be in the rearview after the 24-year-old went 8-for-16 with a home run, which included a five-hit performance on Friday, during his second rehab start in Triple-A Charlotte.
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Teel will now join Braden Montgomery and Chase Meidroth in the lineup for the first time since the trio was acquired from Boston, along with reliever Wikelman Gonzalez, in the Garrett Crochet trade.
To make room for Teel on the roster, Edgar Quero was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte, in a move that could have a ripple effect on the White Sox offense.
For the most part, the White Sox bats have not been the problem this season. The White Sox offense currently ranks second in the MLB in homers and ninth in slugging percentage. However, Munetaka Murakami’s absence in the middle of the lineup has started to take its toll.
During the White Sox’s most recent six-game road trip, the offense averaged just three runs per game, a noticeable drop from the nearly five runs per game the club has produced this season. Part of that dip can be traced to the youth throughout the lineup, as Chicago’s inexperienced core has shown more inconsistency away from home.
While returning to Rate Field should provide a boost, especially with a pivotal series against the Guardians, who enter one game ahead of the White Sox in the AL Central, part of Chicago’s offensive struggles have been magnified by a lack of production from the catcher position.
White Sox catchers have combined for a league-worst .510 OPS this season. Teel, who posted a .786 OPS in 78 games last season, showed the kind of production Chicago has been missing at the position.
Teel hit .273/.375/.411 last year with 11 doubles, eight home runs, 35 RBIs, and 38 runs scored. Beyond the numbers, he also brings a noticeable energy to the clubhouse, both through his style of play and an infectious personality that includes serving as a locker room DJ.
The White Sox have already received a similar shot in the arm after promoting Rikuu Nishida, a similarly energetic presence, even though he carries a much lower offensive ceiling.
While Teel was sidelined, Quero was supposed to help steady the position. The 26-year-old showed plenty of promise during his rookie season, hitting .268 with a 46% hard-hit rate. His unique skillset as a switch-hitting catcher was a key reason many projected Teel and Quero to form a long-term tandem behind the plate.
But for whatever reason, things haven’t materialized for Quero this season. In 55 games, he is slashing .187/.253/.233 with two homers and 15 RBIs. But a reset in Triple-A could be just what Quero needs to get back on track.
There have been signs that he has been pressing at the plate. Most notable has been the uptick in strikeouts, with his strikeout rate climbing to 24% after sitting at 18% last season. His whiff rate and chase rate have also increased this season.
While Quero has shown flashes at the plate, his ability to consistently square up the ball has been uneven. Despite a 90 mph average exit velocity, he carries just a 34% hard-hit rate and has struggled to barrel the baseball.
Even so, the White Sox will still need his bat at some point down the stretch, as Teel can’t be expected to shoulder the bulk of the catching duties after returning from a knee injury.
