Kyle Teel Rewarded With Unexpected Special Gift by White Sox in Heartwarming Moment Ahead of MLB Debut

It’s finally here. Kyle Teel, one of the top prospects from Triple-A Charlotte, has made it under big league stadium lights. Before going up against the Kansas City Royals, the Chicago White Sox officially promoted their catcher to the majors. “This is a dream come true,” he said. And, in a gesture full of warmth, he received a special gift ahead of his MLB debut from his Triple-A manager, Sergio Santos.

Kyle Teel, the 14th overall pick in the 2023 amateur draft out of the University of Virginia, was acquired from the Boston Red Sox back in December in the Garrett Crochet trade. Ever since, he has cemented his spot in Triple-A Charlotte. Across 50 games, he has hit .295 with eight home runs and 30 RBIs.

When the big news dropped regarding his call-up, there was something else in store for him. Charlotte manager Sergio Santos handed Teel a brand new collared shirt, tying it to the moment that had stuck with him for quite some time.

Santos called Teel up in his office and started off reminding him of the ‘fantastic’ job he has done since the start of the season. Further, he expressed, “The biggest thing I’ve noticed is your energy, your work ethic — everything was awesome.” Santos then revealed the memory that lingered with him.

It goes back to April when infielder Chase Meidroth got his call-up. He also happened to be part of the same trade with the Red Sox. Meidroth needed a collared shirt for his trip. Without second thoughts, Teel offered his own. “Here, take this,” he told Meidroth.

Recalling that time, Santos stated, “I’m a big believer in karma,” he told Teel. He then handed him the collared shirt and said, “So, the White Sox want to give you this collared shirt to take up to Chicago.” This was a full-circle moment, and indeed, Santos’ gesture made it all even more meaningful.

Now that he’s all set for the big leagues, where will he be playing for the White Sox regularly?

Where does Teel fit in the White Sox?

Since making his way to the Chicago White Sox in a Garrett Crochet deal with the Red Sox, Teel has emerged through the ranks and earned himself the label of being one of the most promising young prospects. That Garrett Crochet deal also included Braden Montgomery, Chase Meidroth, and Wikelman Gonzalez.

Where exactly Teel fits in the White Sox line-up is, however, still a question. The White Sox have two catchers currently—Korey Lee and Edgar Quero. Lee, across 14 appearances this season, has hit .250, and Quero, 22, is hitting .256 without a home run across 38 games.

The White Sox considered moving Teel to first base through his transition from Triple-A to the big leagues. He was in the lineup as the starting catcher on his major league debut, batting sixth. And, to make space for him, backstop Korey Lee was optioned to Charlotte. Will that be his position going forward? We will see.

The White Sox are currently at 20-43 and struggling at the bottom of the AL Central. They were desperate for a new energy in the lineup, and Teel’s addition seems just like it. He has an impressive .401 OBP with a 14.1% walk rate in the minors. Not to forget, he also offers plate discipline and production.

In fact, he had a strong May, and it earned him the title of White Sox Minor Leaguer of the Month. It’s fair to say he comes as a silver lining for Chicago.

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