Rain delay DJ: Teel talks storm chasing aspirations, musical talents

CHICAGO – If people judge Kyle Teel simply by his exceptional on-field work, as shown during a healthy 2025 season, then they are missing out on other interesting facets of the 24-year-old’s life.

Sure, he can hit for power, hit for average and run better than the average catcher. But we are going beyond baseball for the White Sox catcher, especially during these Players' Weekend festivities.

Let’s begin with his love of weather. Not love, as in an amateur Storm Chaser or anything of that ilk. At least not yet.

“I watch so many YouTube videos. I think it’s so cool,” Teel told MLB.com during a recent interview, showing off an upbeat personality that doesn’t lend itself to many cloudy days. “I would love to storm chase. I obviously wouldn’t want to go by myself. I want to go with someone who knows what they are doing just because of how dangerous it is.”

Teel is currently on his third injury rehab within a frustrating 2026 season, beginning during a stint for Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic when he suffered a Grade 2 right hamstring strain running out a double in a game against Team USA on March 10. He suffered a right lateral collateral ligament strain when his cleat caught during a swing for Triple-A Charlotte in a Minor League rehab game on May 16 and now he’s pushing forward through a high left ankle sprain suffered in Texas on July 20.

The hope is Teel returns for the final playoff push in early September, as he’s within a week or two of another Minor League injury rehab assignment if all goes well. As he’s working diligently, Teel also can fall back on those side passions.

So, what is it about weather as a whole that drives Teel? He loves the way he feels during a storm or just bad weather.

“I don’t even look at it as bad weather,” a smiling Teel said. “I don’t know if it’s human instinct to go run inside when there is bad weather, but I want to run toward the weather. I just love it.

“I’m learning little by little. But it’s more just like I enjoy being around it more than studying it. Just the way it makes me feel. It feels great.”

Unfortunately, there’s been plenty of bad weather in Chicago for Teel to analyze of late. It’s actually a fortunate thing from Teel’s point of view.

There was a tornado warning last week in Chicago, which rarely happens due to the city’s downtown configuration. He watched out the window of his apartment for a while, and “was loving it.”

As soon as he saw trees moving and the wind kicking up, Teel moved to thoughts of safety for family staying with him.

“We have a parking garage under my building, and I just went in the parking garage for five or 10 minutes to be safe with some of my family,” Teel said. “If I was by myself, I would enjoy it a little more. I wanted to make sure we were all safe.

“Honestly, those YouTube videos are the reason I went down in the garage. I’ve seen so many disasters on YouTube. Crazy things happen. Nothing happened in our area. But yeah, I enjoy it, I think it’s great.”

A hurricane app exists on Teel’s phone, and he tracks them live through YouTube or cameras stationed on oil rigs in the ocean.

“I’m fascinated by Mother Nature,” Teel said.

Maybe some day Teel will write a song dedicated to storm clouds and thunder. Along with this weather interest, Teel loves music.

He’s an amateur disc jockey who would like to take that skill to a higher level, although there’s not a great deal of free time in his foreseeable future. During a recent rain delay, Teel joined with White Sox Major League assistant coach Tony Medina, who used to DJ as well, showing their skills while in the batting cage at Rate Field.

“We were going back and forth, and that was a cool moment,” said Teel, who used to employ those DJ skills at college parties while he was at Virginia. “I still enjoy doing it, especially in the offseason.

“It’s a good relaxation. It’s a good step away from moving around my body. It’s a different part of the brain.”

Recently, Teel also has been playing a great deal of acoustic guitar and considers himself a pretty solid musical talent on that instrument.

“When we were in San Diego, I went to the Taylor factory and got to buy a guitar … with Grant Taylor,” Teel said. “We both got guitars. I bring it on the road with me. I love it so much.”

Teel of course loves playing baseball and would love for his White Sox squad to reach the ultimate prize of a World Series title. He also loves the feeling of weather and music, as a whole. He’s a multi-faced young talent.