White Sox catcher Kyle Teel is beginning a rehab assignment and could return in time to help Chicago create separation atop the AL Central.
The catching position has been a nightmare for the Chicago White Sox in 2026. Three separate injuries have landed starter Kyle Teel on the IL for most of the season and limited him to just 19 games for the White Sox.
Drew Romo has struggled to a .144 batting average, while Edgar Quero is batting .208 with a .541 OPS over 65 games. Quero is currently back in Triple A as the White Sox turn to Jake Rogers in search of more production.
That move became necessary after Joey Bart, the catcher whom the White Sox acquired at the trade deadline, broke his hand when he was hit by a pitch just three games into his White Sox tenure. And while Rogers contributed with a massive walk-off home run against the New York Mets on Friday night, his 2-for-14 performance at the plate thus far makes it difficult to project what he will provide moving forward.
The most viable path for the White Sox to get consistent production from the catching position is, and has always been, for Kyle Teel to make a speedy return. His left ankle sprain, sustained on July 20 in Texas, was initially feared to be a season-ending injury or, at the very least, something that might keep him out until the final few weeks of the regular season. By then, the damage could already be done.
But throughout his recovery, Teel has consistently appeared to be ahead of schedule. On August 11, he was performing movement drills in the outfield. On August 17, he took batting practice for the first time since the injury and continued to feel good. Now, the White Sox are sending him out on a rehab assignment.
Starting Tuesday, Teel will begin his rehab assignment and should be in line to rejoin the White Sox around the beginning of September.
Chicago has done a decent enough job of treading water and maintaining its spot atop the AL Central thus far. Heading into play on Sunday, the White Sox hold a 3.5-game lead over the Cleveland Guardians. But as we have seen all season, the standings can change in the blink of an eye. It only takes one bad series for the White Sox to go from a comfortable playoff position to an uneasy one as they are hunted at the top of the division.
With a manageable schedule the rest of the way and only opponents with worse records than the White Sox currently remaining, now is the time for Chicago to create some separation and run away with the AL Central. Kyle Teel can help them do exactly that.
His first stint with the club in 2026 was not particularly overwhelming. He hit just .190 with a .589 OPS, but there is good reason to believe Teel will outperform those numbers over a larger sample size and give the White Sox the best production they have received from a catcher all year. His impending return represents a huge step in the right direction and an extremely positive development for Chicago.
