The Chicago White Sox entered spring training envisioning Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero as the combination behind the plate after both catchers had promising rookie seasons in 2025.
Injuries, however, kept Teel sidelined. And while Quero has had his moments this season — such as a walk-off, two-run home run in the 10th inning against the Cubs on May 17 at Rate Field — he has largely struggled at the plate.
The Sox inserted Teel in the lineup for the first time this season on Monday after he was reinstated from the injured list. In the corresponding move, the Sox optioned Quero to Triple-A Charlotte.
“Excited to have Teel back,” manager Will Venable said before Monday’s game against the Cleveland Guardians at Rate Field. “But Edgar is someone who has been working extremely hard to make some adjustments and really unlock the best version of himself. And as he’s continued to try to do that, and it just hasn’t been really finding the results, this environment’s a really hard place to be able to do that.
“So just want to be able to give him the opportunity to go down to Triple A, continue to make these adjustments and be the best version of himself.”
Quero is slashing .187/.253/.233 with two home runs, 15 RBIs and 12 runs in 55 games.
“I think I’m going down over there to refocus and play more,” Quero said Monday afternoon. “Take more at-bats and be a little more comfortable at the plate. It’s part of the process. That doesn’t mean I’m not going to come back here. It’s baseball. It can happen.
“Everybody knows what I can do in the field. I’m pretty sure about that too. It’s part of the game. I’m going down there hopefully for a couple of weeks, a month, whatever it is. Trying to come back and do my best for the team.”
Sox catchers entered Monday with a combined .167/.241/.268 slash line, seven home runs and 28 RBIs. The team began the season with Quero and Reese McGuire as the catchers. They called up Drew Romo from Charlotte on April 25, designating McGuire for assignment.
Teel and Romo are now the catching options.
The team is hopeful Teel will provide a much-needed offensive jolt behind the plate.
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“I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time,” Teel said before Monday’s game. “It was a grind for a while, but I’m just so grateful to be back.”
Teel suffered a right hamstring strain March 10 while playing for Italy during the World Baseball Classic. He then had a setback while working his way back, spraining the lateral collateral ligament in his right knee May 16 during an injury rehab stint with Triple-A Charlotte when his front spike got caught as he was swinging.
“It just was unfortunate but just leaving that behind me, making adjustments,” Teel said of the knee injury. “I’m going to use plastic spikes from now on.”
The Sox transferred Teel to the 60-day IL on May 19. He played in four games for the Knights during a second rehab stint, going 8-for-16 (.500) with one home run, four RBIs and five runs. He collected five hits Friday at Buffalo.
“Felt good,” Teel said of the most recent time with Charlotte. “It was great to be out there playing baseball again.”
Teel had a .273/.375/.411 slash line with 11 doubles, eight home runs, 35 RBIs, 38 runs and 37 walks in 78 games last season. He was acquired with second baseman Chase Meidroth, outfielder Braden Montgomery and pitcher Wikelman González in the December 2024 trade that sent pitcher Garrett Crochet to the Boston Red Sox.
“Obviously (Teel is) somebody that makes a huge impact in the middle of our lineup,” Venable said.
Teel said he’s ready to catch seven days a week.
“Would love for him to catch seven days a week, but I think — one, obviously at the catching position you’re not going to catch every day,” Venable said. “Also, in Kyle’s situation where as much as we want him in there, it was maybe four games in five days in this rehab stint, the last rehab stint was cut short, his spring training was cut short. So he really doesn’t have that volume of playing and at-bats, and kind of his legs in the type of shape in which you want to go out and throw him out there every single day.
“We’ll be mindful of that and at the same time, he’s here and healthy and ready to go, so we’ll see what it looks like.”
Teel said he learned “a lot” while he was out of action. He returned ahead of the important three-game series against the Cleveland Guardians. The Sox entered Monday in second place in the American League Central, trailing the Guardians by one game.
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“Patience was a big thing I’ve learned throughout my process,” Teel said. “But I’m just looking forward now. I’m ready to play ball. So, let’s go.”