Kyle Teel Has Created An Interesting Dilemma For White Sox

Kyle Teel is quickly proving why he was the centerpiece of the blockbuster Garrett Crochet trade this past offseason. The #2 prospect in the White Sox organization and the #32 prospect in baseball per MLB.com, Teel is scorching hot offensively this spring. His impressive performance has created an interesting debate about whether or not he should make the team out of spring training.

Teel's Impressive Spring Thus Far

The 23-year-old left-handed catcher immediately opened eyes this spring when he homered off Dodgers pitching phenom Roki Sasaki in a simulated game. Teel has carried that momentum into game action, as he now has a robust .333 batting average and an otherworldly 1.384 OPS this spring after a three-hit performance earlier today.

Teel's numbers are even more impressive than they appear on the surface. Not only is he showing in-game power, as evidenced by his two home runs and a double, but he is also hardly striking out. He has three strikeouts in 15 plate appearances compared to three walks. Teel is showing a selective eye at the plate, impressive power, and added defensive experience behind the plate.

White Sox Intense Catcher Competition

The White Sox have no shortage of catchers in camp this year. Last year's starter Korey Lee, offseason trade acquisition Matt Thaiss, and non-roster invite Omar Narváez are the veteran catchers competing for spots. Top prospect Edgar Quero is also in the mix. Teel is facing plenty of competition at the catcher position, and despite competing against several veterans with prior MLB experience, he has arguably had the most impressive spring of any catcher in White Sox camp to this point.

Before the start of spring training, it felt logical that Lee and Thaiss would be the two catchers on the Opening Day roster, with Teel and Quero starting the season with the AAA Charlotte Knights. However, Teel's impressive spring has created an interesting dynamic in constructing the roster. The longer Teel continues to perform, the harder it is to ignore what he is doing. 

If talent were the only consideration, Teel would be a slam dunk to make the team out of the spring. He is arguably the most talented catcher in the organization, even though he hasn't made his MLB debut yet. Teel is also the future at the position for the White Sox, along with Edgar Quero. There is a legitimate argument that Teel belongs on the team's Opening Day roster based on what he has done this spring and the fact that he already has some experience at the AAA level.

Service Time Considerations

Unfortunately, the decision is not that straightforward. Service time plays a significant role in the calculations. The MLB season is 187 days long, and per MLB.com, accruing 172 days on an MLB roster is one year of service. Simply put, the White Sox could manipulate Teel's service time by waiting until mid-April to call him up. Waiting roughly two weeks into the season to call up Teel would grant the team another year of control of his services that they would not have if he made the Opening Day roster. For a team in a deep rebuild and years away from contention, keeping Teel in the minors to begin the 2025 campaign in exchange for an extra season in what could be the prime of his career is a logical option.

Prospect Promotion Incentive Program

With service time manipulation becoming a hot topic in MLB over recent years, the Prospect Promotion Incentive (PPI) program was implemented as part of the 2022 Collective Bargaining Agreement and could impact the White Sox decision on Teel's status. The PPI program incentivizes teams to carry their top prospects on their Opening Day roster by offering an additional first-round pick if that player wins the Rookie of the Year award. Based on preseason prospect ranking eligibility, Teel qualifies for this program. If he makes the team and wins the Rookie of the Year award, the White Sox would get a much-needed additional draft pick in 2026. This year's rookie class is interesting, but Teel has as much of a chance to win the award as anyone.

Kyle Teel's Bright Future

There are arguments for both sides. If prioritizing the future is the ultimate goal, keeping Teel in the minors to start the season and obtaining an additional year of control is the right decision. However, if the White Sox want to reward one of their top prospects for a fantastic spring and put the best team on the field from day one while potentially earning another draft pick in the process, Teel should and will make the team. The fact that Teel has made this a topic of discussion is a positive development in itself. Whatever the organization decides to do, Kyle Teel's talent is shining bright and he will be a fixture on the south side for years to come.