Catcher Kyle Teel finally will begin a rehab assignment Tuesday with Triple-A Charlotte, the White Sox said Sunday.
Teel suffered a Grade 2 strain of his right hamstring March 10, getting hurt while running out a double for Team Italy in a victory against Team USA at the World Baseball Classic. He reportedly was to be sent to Charlotte two weeks ago, but that was pushed back after he tweaked the injury.
Teel, 24, was all smiles after the Sox’ 2-1 victory against the Mariners.
‘‘I feel really good right now, just excited to get playing again,’’ Teel said. ‘‘It’s been a minute, so just looking forward to it.
‘‘This team is electric right now — the attitude, how hard everyone’s playing and the success that we’re having. I can’t wait to be a part of it and help contribute.’’
Teel resumed running the bases during workouts this weekend at Rate Field. General manager Chris Getz earlier had hinted that might the final hurdle for Teel before a rehab assignment.
No timeline has been set for Teel’s return to the Sox. He said he thinks he’ll be behind the plate Tuesday at Charlotte, then serve as the designated hitter in his next game.
‘‘Think I’m only catching five [innings] the first game, but we’ll just go and see how it plays out,’’ Teel said.
Teel said he has had no trouble catching and hitting for some time, ‘‘but the problem was always the running.’’
Teel, who was acquired from the Red Sox in the Garrett Crochet trade in December 2024, hit .273 with eight home runs and 35 RBI and walked 37 times in 297 plate appearances for the Sox last season.
Mune’s defense
Rookie Munetaka Murakami settled for a single and an intentional walk Sunday and remained at 15 homers. Meanwhile, the Yankees’ Aaron Judge and the Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber went deep to pull ahead of him for the major-league lead with 16.
While everyone focuses on the long balls, Sox bench coach Walker McKinven said the staff is noticing Murakami’s continued improvement at first base. He has committed only two errors and is fine-tuning other elements of the position.
‘‘On the whole, he’s been steadily rising as a defender and has been a very trustworthy defender over there,’’ McKinven said.
What does he like about Murakami’s work?
‘‘[His] footwork around the bag,’’ McKinven said. ‘‘He’s been excellent with picking baseballs at the bag, something that has gotten brushed under the rug.’’
Murakami, however, still is getting used to defensive shifts that might take him far off the bag.
‘‘We want to get him comfortable with his space off the bag and trusting he can get back,’’ McKinven said.
Cold ‘Dumper’
The Sox kept All-Star catcher Cal Raleigh on ice in their series victory against the Mariners.
Raleigh hit 60 homers last season to set records for a catcher and a switch-hitter, but he is hitless in his last 36 plate appearances.
Right-hander Davis Martin walked Raleigh with two outs in the sixth inning Sunday, but that was the only time he reached base in the series.
Sox outfielder Jarred Kelenic claims to have given the 6-2, 235-pound Raleigh the nickname ‘‘Big Dumper’’ when he played for the Mariners. It’s a quip about the size of Raleigh’s backside.
‘‘Probably the first one to call him that,’’ Kelenic said. ‘‘I’m not going to take too much credit for it, but he’s earned everything that he’s gotten.’’