The White Sox received a huge boost when Kyle Teel returned from the injured list, as he was one of the best hitters on the White Sox last season. That being said, the White Sox have gotten some of the worst production in the league out of the catcher position this season, so this was an even bigger addition than it normally would be.
With Teel in the fold, the White Sox are one step closer to having a complete lineup. When Munetaka Murakami returns from the injured list, the White Sox will have one of the best lineups in the entire major leagues. If the pitching can hold up, the White Sox will be headed to the postseason come October.
Outside of upgrading the starting rotation and bullpen, the White Sox could also use an upgrade at catcher. As of today, Drew Romo is hitting .137 over 95 at-bats. While he does have five home runs and 11 RBIs, Baseball Reference has him at -.2 WAR. Since the White Sox look to be easing Teel back into playing everyday, the White Sox need more out of their backup catcher.
While Drew Romo provides solid defense behind the plate, his .137 average is .51 points below the lowest qualified hitter in the league right now. As it currently stands, Manny Machado of the San Diego Padres is hitting .188 in 293 at-bats. While he has less at-bats, Romo is still well below the worst qualified average. For a team that’s pushing for the playoffs, this isn’t going to cut it.
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Thankfully for the White Sox, they have another capable catcher in the organization in Korey Lee. Last season, in 35 at-bats, Lee hit .257 with a .333 on-base percentage. While it is a small sample size, that would be a huge upgrade over what the White Sox are currently getting out of their backup catching position. In 2024 over 377 at-bats, Lee hit .210 with a .244 on base percentage. While that isn’t nearly as good as his 2025 season, that is much better production at the plate than the White Sox are currently getting from Romo.
Korey Lee goes out at 107 MPH for his 11th on the year. #Knights trail 6-4. pic.twitter.com/OAJLcL15DA
— FutureSox (@FutureSox) June 26, 2026
Right now in AAA, Lee is hitting .230 with a .311 on base percentage. He’s hit 11 home runs, has driven in 36 runs, and has eight stolen bases. While this is by no means overly impressive, he deserves a chance to show what he can do at the major league level.
The White Sox are going to be in a dogfight with the Cleveland Guardians for the division for the rest of this season, barring any injuries. They will need to put the best 26 men on their major league roster if they want to win the division. We know what Lee can do in the major leagues, and right now that is better than what Drew Romo is giving the White Sox.
Romo is currently 1 for his last 22 at the plate over his last seven games, and 4 for his last 47 over his last 15 games. The White Sox need to mix it up to see if they can provide another spark at a position that seemingly is getting at-bats in the starting lineup every other day.
Romo still has a lot of potential, but right now he is in a major slump and has been for the last few weeks. The White Sox need to put the best players on the roster, and replacing Romo for Lee for the time being would be a much needed upgrade.
