ARLINGTON, Texas — The White Sox entered the year with perhaps the most promising duo of young catchers in baseball.
But in a season full of positive surprises, the Sox are dealing with a tough one, as Kyle Teel’s latest injury has them hoping a struggling Edgar Quero can regain his form at the plate.
The Sox recalled Quero and placed Teel on the 10-day injured list Tuesday, the morning after Teel suffered a high-ankle sprain while trying to tag out a runner at the plate during their series opening win in Texas.
That diagnosis sounded more promising than it looked Monday night when Teel couldn’t get off the field under his own power. But manager Will Venable indicated the injury still could cost his second-year backstop the rest of the regular season.
“It’s a pretty wide range, where we’re thinking six to 12 weeks, so it’s going to be some time,” Venable said with about 10 weeks left in the Sox’ surprising division race. “But I think with a range that big and Kyle being a young, strong man, that he can go about his treatment and rehab and hopefully make it as quick as possible.”
With his left ankle in a walking boot, a somber Teel said he was still awaiting more information from doctors.
“I don’t know what grade or any timeline, but my biggest focus is just getting back as soon as possible,” he said.
“It’s very frustrating. It’s not how I anticipated this year to go. I put a lot of work in this offseason. I just wanted it really bad. It’s very unfortunate, but I’m not going to sit around and feel bad for myself. I’m just going to keep pushing every day and do everything I can to help this team win when I’m back.”
Kyle Teel spoke before tonight’s game and provided an update on his ankle injury: pic.twitter.com/7C1vBbHEjn
— White Sox on CHSN (@CHSN_WhiteSox) July 21, 2026
It’s the third injury Teel has weathered in his sophomore season. The 24-year-old pulled a hamstring while running out a double for Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic, then tweaked a knee ligament when he initially was nearing a return in mid-May.
Teel’s latest setback came less than a month after making it back to the Sox on June 22. He’d hit .190/.271/.317 with two homers, two doubles and 14 RBI in 19 games.
“I felt like I was getting my feet under me and just getting started,” Teel said. “I feel like there are times where I take this game for granted. Now I’m grateful to be in the position I’m in to play this game every day, and this is a small bump in the road.”
The switch-hitting Quero never found a rhythm at the plate while handling the bulk of catching duties in Teel’s initial absence.
After showing a knack for contact his rookie season, Quero labored to a paltry .187/.253/.233 line in 55 games to start this season. He did produce one of the season’s top highlights with a walk-off homer against the Cubs at Rate Field to secure a crosstown series win.
But he only hit one other homer and a double before he was shipped to Triple-A following Teel’s return, and he didn’t fare much better in Charlotte. In 15 games with the Knights, he hit .230/.299/.295 with a homer, a double and six RBI.
Backup catcher Drew Romo (.134/.222/.313 with five homers in 37 games) got the start Tuesday. Both are lesser defensive options compared to Teel, whom Venable has called his best overall player.
“These guys have been here and done good jobs,” Venable said of Quero and Romo. “Offensively, there’s been some things that we know we want to continue to push on to get better, but behind the plate, especially Drew, the job that he’s done recently here has been outstanding.”
Teel’s injury adds a twist to general manager Chris Getz’s trade-deadline discussions as the Sox look to bolster their catching depth as well as their pitching staff.
“I know Getzy will be doing whatever he can, not just specific to the catcher position,” Venable said. “It’s a round-the-year job to look at how to improve our roster.”