GLENDALE, Ariz. — Kyle Teel has given the White Sox some assurances about their catching situation for the future, a nice nugget to have in a collection of prospect jewels for a rebuilding organization.
He has also brought a jolt of boyish enthusiasm into the clubhouse, a welcome commodity for a team that is trying to put the worst season in the modern-day history of the game behind it.
Told that his personality is infectious, Teel, 23, grins and responds with a “thank you.”
“I just love what I do,” Teel said Thursday. “Come to the field every day and give it everything I got. There are a lot of like minded, great people here.
“Love the guys on the team, hang with guys off the field, too, so it’s been good. Overall I’m very happy right now.”
The Sox are happy with how Teel looks behind the plate, at the plate and on base, where his speed for a catcher is above average.
“Made some minor adjustments after seeing some live pitching and that’s what it’s about,” Teel said. “That’s what spring training is for.”
“It just gets better and better with Kyle and he’s getting more at-bats, and he’s performing, his production is going up as well,” general manager Chris Getz said.
Teel is 5-for-15 with three walks, two homers and a double in 10 games. He also homered against Dodgers right-hander Roki Sasaki in a live batting practice session, which went viral on social media.
Getz got Teel, outfielder Braden Montgomery, infielder Chase Meidroth and right-hander Wikelman Gonzalez in a trade for All-Star left-hander Garrett Crochet in December, so watching the left-handed hitting Teel have a strong spring is assuring for the GM. As the Sox’ DH on Monday, Teel had three hits to the opposite field, including a double near the wall and a home run.
“His at-bats have been really consistent,” Getz said. “It’s not easy coming off the bench in spring training, just to go up there and get calibrated like any hitter needs to get calibrated. He’s taking walks. He’s laid off of some really tough pitches and he’s driven some pitches that he should drive.”
Getz has noted the energy Teel and Meidroth, who has a chance to make the Opening Day roster, perhaps as the shortstop, have brought.
“But Kyle, especially at the catching position, is infectious,” Getz said. “Guys are going to really enjoy throwing to him. The catcher is a captain on the field, and someone that has the energy and the respect from his teammates, all the better. It also speaks to how solid we feel about that catching position with a Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero and a Korey Lee. To have that package of catchers, we feel like we’re in a really good spot there.”
Teel’s vocal delivery saying a pitcher’s sequence “was beautifully done” brought the house down in a recent catcher and pitchers meeting.
“Everyone thought it was pretty funny and everyone is still saying it,” Teel said. “I’m glad everyone likes that phrase.”
Veteran Omar Narvaez was particularly moved.
“The first time I heard that in a meeting,” Narvaez said.
“He’s crazy,” Narvaez said. “He’s just different. But he’s a great kid. He has a lot of energy, and he just wants to learn. He’s one of those kids you want to give him your experience.”
Teel asks about “everything,” Narvaez said. “Which is good. Him and Quero are not afraid to ask. And that’s a good thing.”
Teel is MLB Pipeline’s No. 3-ranked catcher and Quero is No. 5.
It stands to reason that Lee and Matt Thaiss make the Opening Day roster and Teel, and perhaps Edgar Quero, too, find their way to the majors at some point this season.
“I can’t play GM so I don’t worry about that stuff,” Teel said. “I’m here to play every day and that’s all I care about.”