On MLB.com, all of the beat writers selected who their team’s breakout candidate will be in 2026. The Chicago White Sox have a young roster with numerous potential players to choose from.
Every position seems to have a young player ready to break out or waiting in the wings.
There is no shortage of that when it comes to the catcher position. According to White Sox beat writer Scott Merkin, catcher Kyle Teel will be the one to break out in 2026.
Why is Teel Projected to Break Out for the Chicago White Sox?
“Boston reportedly had interest in acquiring Teel, who was part of its four-player trade package in exchange for Garrett Crochet,” Merkin wrote. “It’s understandable, considering Teel’s talent, but he’s going nowhere. The left-handed hitter is a tremendous athlete, and he could play some in the outfield with Edgar Quero also in place behind the plate.
“But Teel just got started in ‘25, slashing .288/.376/.457 with all eight of his home runs after the All-Star break. Catching is gold, according to GM Chris Getz, and Teel has the most value supporting that analysis.”
White Sox fans during the 2025 season got a glimpse of what the future could look like. Teel is at the center of that. He is an excellent hitter, and while he didn’t qualify for any batting stats, per Baseball Savant, he showed quite a bit of promise in 78 games.
Teel had a 47.8 LA Sweet-Spot percentage in 2025. That would’ve been the top mark among all hitters, and three percentage points above Los Angeles Angels centerfielder Mike Trout.
Teel also has great plate discipline, with a 12.5 BB%. That would’ve placed him in the top 25 in that stat.
With a solid rookie year behind him, Teel will now look to improve in his sophomore season. But he’s far from the only candidate to breakout next season.
Who Else Could Break Out?
Beyond Teel, shortstop Colson Montgomery would be the next logical option to break out.
Finishing fifth in AL Rookie of the Year voting, Montgomery showed a power surge in the second half with 21 home runs in 71 games. Montgomery finished with a .529 slugging percentage and has a high power ceiling.
Teel’s battery mate in Quero showed massive improvement throughout the season. While he doesn’t have a high power ceiling like Montgomery, his floor is solid, and he has elite plate discipline (97th percentile in chase percentage) along with a reputation for being a solid game manager.
Second baseman Chase Meidroth, also known for his great plate discipline and contact skills, could be a name to watch. While he possesses very little power, his bat-to-ball skills (99th percentile in squared-up percentage) and defense (80th percentile in Outs Above Average) make up for it.
Last but not least, infielder Lenyn Sosa had a team-high 22 home runs in 2025. He could show a further breakout that could lead to his trade value increasing. While he has bad plate discipline and below-average defense, his bat-to-ball and power skills have gotten better every year.
This White Sox team will surely be in for some more improvement due to these players, as they look to get out of their rebuild as soon as possible.
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