Chicago reinstated Kyle Teel from the injured list on Monday and optioned Edgar Quero to Triple-A Charlotte in the corresponding move.
The Chicago White Sox made it official on Monday morning prior to a massive series against the Cleveland Guardians. Catcher Kyle Teel has been reinstated from the injured list and returned from his rehab assignment.
He will rejoin the White Sox and make his season debut on Monday. Catcher Edgar Quero has been optioned to Triple-A Charlotte in the corresponding move.
Teel's return could solve a massive problem for the White Sox. Their catching tandem has been disappointing all season. Quero is batting .187 with a .486 OPS. Drew Romo is batting .144 with a .591 OPS. And before he was let go, Reese McGuire had a .172 batting average and a .445 OPS.
Outside of a few good games from Romo and Edgar Quero's walk-off home run against the Cubs, the catching position has essentially been an automatic out all year. Kyle Teel can change that.
In 78 games as a rookie in 2025, Teel hit .273 with a .786 OPS. He found his power swing as the year went on and looked like one of the best young offensive catchers in the sport.
During his most recent rehab assignment, Teel went 8-for-16 at the plate with a 1.279 OPS, looking more ready than ever to take the field for the White Sox.
Chicago will be getting an offensive upgrade, and unlike last year, Teel should be the catcher for the White Sox on an everyday basis. The White Sox sent Quero down instead of Romo likely for defensive reasons, but Romo will remain the backup catcher as the superior defender, likely playing only once a week.
It might seem odd to some White Sox fans that Quero got sent down before Romo, especially given how Romo has played over the last month or so. But it shouldn't be all that shocking if you dive into the numbers. Edgar Quero is the worst catcher in baseball in ABS challenges this season. He's also in the third percentile in blocking and the 11th percentile in framing. He's simply one of the worst defensive catchers in the sport, which is a key quality for any backup.
As long as his bat doesn't justify regular playing time, the glove needs to be sharp. Right now, Quero has more than one thing he needs to work on in Charlotte.
None of this is to say that Quero can be ruled out of Chicago's long-term plans. He's still just 23 years old and has shown flashes of being a very valuable asset for Chicago. But as of right now, Kyle Teel is the unquestioned better option.
Hopefully his return also comes with a bit of a spark, because after a brutal weekend in Detroit, the White Sox need it now more than ever.
