Chicago White Sox catcher Kyle Teel has been on the sidelines dealing with a hamstring injury. Teel injured his hamstring while playing for Italy in the World Baseball Classic.
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Unfortunately for the White Sox and Teel, he won’t be ready for the home opener. According to the 24-year-old backstop, the odds aren’t good, and he’ll hopefully be ready not too long after Opening Day.
“From talking with the training staff, it doesn’t look like I’ll be back [for the] home opener,” Teel said to Scott Merkin of MLB.com. “But maybe soon after that, yes. But then again, they haven’t told me a specific time when I’m going to be back. It’s going to be playing it out.”
Teel struggled in five spring training games — .071 batting average and .378 OPS — before joining Italy. In two games in the World Baseball Classic, Teel had four hits, a home run, a double, and an RBI.
Until Kyle Teel returns, others will need to step up for the Chicago White Sox
The White Sox not having Teel’s offense — .273 average and .786 OPS in 78 games last year — will hurt their lineup. Others, like catchers Edgar Quero and Korey Lee, will have to pick up the slack until Teel returns.
Manager Will Venable wanted to carry three catchers on his roster to start the season until Teel got hurt.
Quero will likely get the bulk of the reps behind the dish to start. Quero had a fantastic spring, with a .304 batting average, a .773 OPS, and 12 RBI.
Lee has also done well this spring, batting .294 with a .975 OPS, two home runs, and six RBI. Lee was in the mix to catch last season before a left ankle sprain against the Cleveland Guardians ended his time in the big leagues.
Lee would spend the majority of last season at Triple-A and spend 25 games with the White Sox. Until Teel returns, Quero and Lee will be serviceable at the plate and behind it.
This Chicago White Sox player is the top-ranked prospect according to Bleacher Report
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