CHICAGO – Kyle Teel was the first of the White Sox charges introduced prior to their 5-4 victory in 10 innings over the Blue Jays during Friday afternoon’s home opener at Rate Field. His work with the team was limited to advisor and support staff following that pregame moment. The high-energy catcher continues to move his way back from a Grade 2 right hamstring strain suffered on March 10 while running out a double for Team Italy in a victory over Team USA during the World Baseball Classic. It’s a necessary recovery process, but a unique situation for the 24-year-old. “This is my first time having an injury in this game. So, it’s definitely weird,” Teel told MLB.com Friday morning in the home clubhouse. “I love playing, so it’s tough. But everything happens for a reason, so going day by day.” “Oh, Kyle’s one of our best players,” White Sox manager Will Venable said. “You’re going to miss that guy any time he goes down and he’s not with the group out there … We’ve just got to continue to keep pushing.” |
I talked with Teel near the end of Spring Training, and he was confidently discussing a return some time shortly after the home opener. On Friday, Teel wasn’t sure on the exact timeline, aside from being just over three weeks out from an injury projected to sideline him 4 to 6 weeks. It’s understandable how the return is an inexact science. Teel wants to be out on the field, but more than anything, he wants this hamstring injury to be a one and done situation within the 2026 season. “Honestly, I feel much better this week,” Teel said. “It’s going well. From the way I’ve been feeling, it’s been a steady incline. “From what everyone who has hamstring injuries tells me, there’s going to be a day where it just feels really, really good. That’s when you make that big jump. I feel like I’m coming up on that day really soon.” There weren’t any setbacks, per se, for Teel, but there were a couple of times when the injury was pulling at him and left Teel in a great deal of pain. Even those days are good, according to Teel, as it’s breaking up scar tissue. “Those days result in coming back sooner. Rough days for sure, but it’s all part of it,” Teel said. “I’ll probably start hitting middle of this week. I shut the hitting down just because of my lead leg, that’s when it would lock, and it would stop my lower half. That’s when I would really, really feel it. “More than even running. I just made sure to be slow with that. I’ll hit off a tee next week. That’s the No. 1 thing that’s taking the longest. The running is going great. I’ll probably hit 90 percent today. But [with] the hitting we have to be careful: It’s a long season.” |
A Minor League rehab assignment to Triple-A Charlotte is not too far off for Teel. For now, though, it’s rehab, Opening Day introductions and dugout assists. “Yeah, I think it’s important to be healthy when I get back out there,” Teel said. “That’s the No. 1 thing. I don’t want this to linger all season. “At the same time, I’m still trying to help the team win right now. I’m able to do certain things like talk to our pitchers, talk to some hitters, and work on scouting reports. I’m just doing my best to help this team in any way I can.” Edgar Quero and Reese McGuire are managing the catching duties in Teel’s injury absence, with the switch-hitting Quero already penciled in as Teel’s co-pilot behind the plate. The White Sox also have Korey Lee and Drew Romo at the position with Charlotte. |
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William Bergolla Jr., the No. 11 prospect per MLB Pipeline, was 13-for-23 (.565) with four runs scored, four doubles, six RBIs, two stolen bases, four walks and two strikeouts entering Friday’s contest for the Charlotte Knights. Bergolla’s status as one of the organization’s favorite prospects has only been enhanced by his production over those first six games. “Bergy controls the zone incredibly well because he gets pitches over the heart of the plate,” White Sox director of hitting Ryan Fuller told MLB.com. “He’s one of the best in baseball at putting the bat on the ball, but not just the bat. The sweet spot of the bat, too. So, he hits the ball at really good angles. His focus, going back to last year, was getting stronger. “He's still young, so it’s really committing to the weight room, the weighted bat program, and we’ve seen his bat speed jump up. So those line drives last year [hit] in the high 80s [mph] are now 95-plus, 100-plus. To see that physicality come out with already a really high contact skill is really exciting.” Bergolla doesn’t have an overall skill set screaming Major League star. But he has done nothing but proved he belongs, and possibly soon, since coming from the Phillies in a 2024 trade for Tanner Banks. “Bergy will be the first to tell you he’s a table setter,” Fuller said. “His job is to get to first base, and if there is a guy on second base that needs to get to third, he’s going to bunt him over. Looking for ways to get 90 feet and then taking 90 feet once he’s on the basepaths.” |
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• Make sure to check out Jim Callis’ comprehensive and outstanding Prospect Preview regarding the White Sox system. • Roger Bossard, the head groundskeeper for the White Sox since 1983, was honored pregame Friday for his 60th year with the team. Bossard is as nice an individual as you can find, and please read my chat with him at Spring Training about his past six decades on the job. • Two more wins in the NCAA Tournament for the University of Michigan men’s basketball team, please. I don’t think a championship is too much for me to ask. |
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“I’ve been lucky in Chicago, man. I’m telling you. A lot of people know me as a player. A lot of people know me as a manager. And a lot of kids know me as the crazy guy on TV.” – Ozzie Guillen, who will have his jersey No. 13 retired on Aug. 8 by the White Sox. |
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