On May 2 in San Diego, Edgar Quero faced a pivotal decision behind the plate. With the Chicago White Sox protecting a four-run lead in the bottom of the ninth, the Padres loaded the bases with former White Sox outfielder Gavin Sheets representing the tying run with nobody out.
Facing a 2-2 count, White Sox reliever Grant Taylor snapped off an 84 mph belt-high curveball that clipped the edge of the strike zone, which was called a ball. Quero immediately tapped his helmet to initiate an ABS challenge, and replay confirmed the pitch had indeed caught the zone, turning a dangerous full-count situation into a critical strikeout looking.
The successful high-leverage challenge not only secured the first out of the inning but also cut the Padres’ win probability by 12 percent in a game the White Sox ultimately won 4-0.
Unfortunately for the White Sox and Quero, these types of moments have been few and far between. The White Sox rank first in the MLB in defensive ABS challenges lost this season, and Quero has been a major reason why.
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Much has been made about Quero’s struggles in the batter’s box, but the 23-year-old is having an equally tough time behind the plate. His four errors are the most of any American League catcher, while his pitch framing and -4 blocks above average, each ranking in the bottom 20 percent of the league.
While pitch framing has taken on a smaller role this season with the emergence of the ABS challenge system, it remains a critical part of the game. The more borderline strikes a catcher can steal, especially early in games, the more pressure it puts on opposing hitters, who are often hesitant to burn a challenge in lower-leverage situations.
But Quero hasn’t just struggled to steal strikes; he’s also had trouble identifying them. In 42 ABS challenge opportunities, Quero has successfully overturned just 18 calls, good for a 43% success rate that ranks among the worst in baseball. In fact, his 24 unsuccessful challenges are the most among the 79 catchers who have appeared in an MLB game this season.
It’s one of the reasons the White Sox have lost the most defensive challenges in the MLB so far this season, at 36. But Quero isn’t the only issue. The White Sox as a whole have struggled to adjust to the ABS challenge system. On the offensive side, White Sox hitters have only won 15 challenges, once again the fewest in the MLB.
The White Sox have managed to hover around .500 despite their struggles with the ABS, but it is becoming clear that Quero is becoming a detriment. Despite spending the offseason working to improve his launch angle and bat speed at the Driveline facility in Arizona, the White Sox catcher has stumbled out of the gate.
Nearly 100 plate appearances into the 2026 season, he is failing to hit the ball hard, has yet to hit a home run, and is posting a pedestrian .642 OPS.
Quero still possesses one of the most valuable skill sets in baseball as a switch-hitting catcher. So while the White Sox would be unwise to give up on the 23-year-old, it may be time for a reset in Triple-A, especially with Drew Romo emerging and Kyle Teel nearing a return.
It would be one thing if the struggles were confined to the batter’s box, but the defensive metrics have become increasingly difficult to overlook. With the American League wide open and the White Sox suddenly in the thick of the playoff race in a weak AL Central, Chris Getz has already shown the organization is prioritizing production over potential. That was evident when the team designated hard-throwing right-hander Jordan Leasure for assignment. Like Quero, Leasure possesses plenty of upside, but inconsistent performances ultimately began costing the White Sox games.
How much longer of a rope Quero will have is yet to be seen, but once Teel, who has already begun a rehab assignment, is ready to return, the White Sox could be forced to make a decision on the former top-100 prospect.
