The White Sox are getting back a big bat just in time for a big series.
The team activated catcher Kyle Teel from the injured list Monday ahead of its series against the American League Central-leading Guardians, who are one game ahead of the Sox. Edgar Quero was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte.
Teel is returning from two injury rehab assignments. First, he strained his right hamstring during the World Baseball Classic on March 10. While on a rehab assignment for that injury, he sprained a knee ligament May 16. The Sox moved him to the 60-day injured list, leaving the 40-man roster at 39. He now retakes that open spot.
On his second rehab, Teel played in four games for the Knights, going 8-for-16 with one home run, four RBI and five runs scored. He went 5-for-6 on Friday at Buffalo. Last season, his first with the Sox, Teel had a .786 OPS with eight homers and 35 RBI. He led the team in batting average (.288) and on-base percentage (.376) after the All-Star break.
Quero has had a rough second big-league season, slashing .187/.253/.233 with two home runs, 15 RBI and 12 runs scored in 55 games. Sox catchers, also including Drew Romo and former Sox Reese McGuire, have combined for major-league lows of a .167 batting average and a .241 on-base percentage. Their .268 slugging percentage is second-lowest, ahead of the Yankees’ .268.