On Thursday, the Charlotte Knights, the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, scratched catcher Kyle Teel from the lineup, and there’s anticipation he will make his Major League Baseball debut on Friday against the Kansas City Royals.
Chris Cotillo of MassLive, a Massachusetts-based sports website, first reported the news of Teel’s promotion. The Boston Red Sox selected the 23-year-old 14th overall in the 2023 MLB Draft, but he was the centerpiece of the trade package that sent American League Cy Young candidate Garrett Crochet to the Red Sox this past December.
Here in Charlotte, Kyle Teel was scratched from the lineup shortly before first pitch and he’s expected to join the White Sox for his major league debut.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) June 5, 2025
Teel, a University of Virginia product, hit .295/.394/.492 with an .886 OPS and eight home runs in 50 games this season at Triple-A Charlotte before yesterday’s promotion to MLB. He slashed .300/.401/.456 with 23 homers and 130 RBIs in 188 games across four minor league levels from 2023 till now.
MLB Pipeline ranks Teel as the White Sox’ No. 2 prospect behind left-handed pitcher Noah Schultz. He’s the second catcher in the organization to receive a promotion to MLB this season, after Edgar Quero’s call-up in mid-April.
“Obviously, my goal is to play in the big leagues,” Teel told MLB.com’s Scott Merkin before his promotion. “That’s why I work so hard every day, is to help the White Sox win. But I can’t play GM. I just have to go out there and play baseball every day. So, I’m just doing my job, and I’m going to let all that take care of itself.”
With Teel’s presence incoming, first-year White Sox manager Will Venable must decide if he wants to continue to use Quero and backup catcher Korey Lee behind the plate and stick Teel at first base, or decrease the playing time of either of the two backstops.
Photo: Kyle Teel of the Virginia Cavaliers catches during warm ups before the eighth inning against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the ACC Baseball Championship at Durham Bulls Athletic Park on May 25, 2023. Teel has been called up to the Major Leagues by the Chicago White Sox. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images)
