2025 South Side Sox Top Prospect No. 5: Kyle Teel
We won’t see him open the season with the White Sox, but this backstop’s future in Chicago is a matter of when and not if
Kyle Teel
6´0´´
190 pounds
Age: 23
First appearance among the South Side Sox Top 100 Prospects
2024 High Level Worcester (AAA)
Age relative to high level -4.4 years
SSS rank among all catchers in the system 2
Overall 2024 MiLB stats 112 games ⚾️ 13 HR ⚾️ 78 RBI ⚾️ .288/.386/.433 ⚾️ 12-of-17 (70.6%) SB ⚾️ 68 BB ⚾️ 116 K ⚾️ 23-of-116 (19.8%) CS ⚾️ 4.7 Simple WAR
Kyle Teel was the key part of the return from the Garrett Crochet trade with the Boston Red Sox this offseason. Upon joining the White Sox, Teel quickly popped to the top of the prospect list, beating out Edgar Quero as MLB Pipeline’s top catching prospect for the White Sox, and coming in at the No. 2 spot behind only Noah Schultz.
Kyle had the opportunity to join the 2020 MLB draft, but ultimately played at the University of Virginia for three years before being drafted as the 14th overall pick in 2023. Teel hit the ground running with Boston, working his way up to Double-A by the end of that season. He posted a .977 OPS in his first 36 games out of the draft, and nearly 25% of his hits were for extra bases.
Teel spent the majority of the 2024 season (84 games) with the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs before moving up to the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox for the final 28 games. For all 112 games, Kyle ended up with a 134 wRC+ with a solid .288/.386/.433 slash line —also mashing 23 doubles and 13 homers. The lefty has plenty of power to be a difference-maker in the lineup, and while he typically pulls the ball (about 45% of the time), he is able to adjust to pitches and hit all over the field when needed.
Defensively, Kyle is just as efficient. He ended the 2024 season with a .985 FLD% with 11 passed balls across 655 1⁄3 innings, and blocking balls has been his strong suit throughout his career. At only 23, he has already proven that he has immense talent and can easily become a reliable starting catcher as he continues to grow as a player.
Teel has flashed his power in 21 Spring Training plate appearances, with five hits, three of which stayed in the ballpark. He has also walked four times and driven in six runs. His slash line in this tiny sample size — .294/.429/.706 — is something to dream on.
Teel’s Baseball Cube player ratings
Hitting 87
RBIs 86
Durability 78
Contact 77
Power 66
Runs 60
XBH 48
Speed 43
Average 68.12
Kyle’s ability to make contact and drive in runs is exactly what the White Sox need. While he’s not the fastest, he has some decent speed for a catcher and stole 12 bases in 2024. If Teel can continue to stay healthy, he will be an asset both at the plate and behind it.
Teel will start the 2024 season in Charlotte, but it’s only a matter of injury on the big club, or desperate need for offense, that will prompt a call-up. Expect that call to come in the season’s first half.
2025 South Side Sox Top 100 White Sox Prospects
5. Kyle Teel, C
6. Braden Montgomery, RF
7. Jairo Iriarte, RHRP
8. Mason Adams, RHSP
9. Grant Taylor, RHSP
10. George Wolkow, RF
11. Bryan Ramos, 3B
12. Brooks Baldwin, SS
13. Chase Meidroth, SS
14. Ky Bush, LHSP
15. Jeral Perez, SS
16. Jacob Gonzalez, SS
17. Caleb Bonemer, SS
18. Wikelman Gonzalez, RHSP
19. Aldrin Batista, RHSP
20. Sean Burke, RHSP
21. Nick Nastrini, RHSP
22. Blake Larson, LHSP
23. Tyler Schweitzer, LHSP
24. Alexander Albertus, 3B
25. Wilfred Veras, RF
26. Seth Keener, RHSP
27. William Bergolla, 2B
28. Samuel Zavala, CF
29. Peyton Pallette, RHRP
30. Jake Eder, LHSP
31. Juan Carela, RHSP
32. Javier Mogollón, SS
33. Nick McLain, RF
34. Ronny Hernandez, C
35. Casey Saucke, RF
36. Eric Adler, RHRP
37. Rikuu Nishida, 2B
38. Shane Smith, RHSP
39. Tim Elko, 1B
40. Zach DeLoach, LF
41. Riley Gowens, RHSP
42. Prelander Berroa, RHRP
43. Sam Antonacci, 2B
44. Adisyn Coffey, RHRP
45. Jarold Rosado, RHRP
46. Ryan Galanie, 1B
47. Trey McGough, LHRP
48. Ricardo Brizuela, RHSP
49. Lucas Gordon, LHSP
50. Aaron Combs, RHRP (traded to Phillies on January 1)
51. DJ Gladney, RF
52. Abraham Núñez, CF
53. Andre Lipcius, 1B
54. Shawn Goosenberg, 1B
55. Caden Connor, 1B
56. Mario Camilletti, 2B
57. Jake Peppers, RHSP
58. Ryan Burrowes, SS
59. Garrett Schoenle, LHRP
60. Jackson Appel, C
61. Tommy Vail, LHSP
62. Bryce Collins, RHRP
63. Tanner McDougal, RHSP
64. Stiven Flores, C
65. T.J. McCants, CF
66. Gil Luna, LHRP
67. Fraser Ellard, LHRP
68. Zach Franklin, RHRP
69. Drew Dalquist, RHRP
70. Nick Altermatt, RHRP
71. Carson Jacobs, RHRP
72. Alec Makarewicz, 1B
73. Jacob Burke, CF
74. Calvin Harris, C
75. Terrell Tatum, CF
76. Phil Fox, RHRP
77. Reudis Diaz, RHSP
78. Jurdrick Profar, SS
79. Drew McDaniel, RHSP
80. Michael Turner, C
81. Caleb Freeman, RHRP
82. Braden Shewmake, SS (designated for assignment on January 1, claimed by Royals)
83. Connor McCullough, RHSP
84. Shane Murphy, LHSP
85. Mikey Kane, 1B
86. Daniel González, LHRP
87. Wes Kath, 3B
88. Pierce George, RHRP
89. Tristan Stivors, RHRP
90. Anthony Hoopii-Tuionetoa, RHRP
91. Chase Plymell, RHRP
92. Eddie Park, CF
93. Loidel Chapelli, 2B
94. Adam Hackenberg, C
95. Adrian Gil, 1B
96. Jared Kelley, RHRP
97. Lyle Miller-Green, 1B
98. Marcelo Alcala, RF
99. Drake Logan, LF
100. Cole McConnell, CF