Teel (high ankle sprain) expected to miss 6-12 weeks

ARLINGTON -- White Sox catcher Kyle Teel told media members he felt better when talking about his left ankle injury prior to Tuesday’s 10-0 loss to the Rangers at Globe Life Field.

But that sense of slight improvement won’t alleviate the frustration produced by a high ankle sprain, keeping Teel sidelined from six to 12 weeks, according to White Sox manager Will Venable.

“Yeah, it’s very frustrating,” said Teel, who was wearing a boot on his left foot. “It’s not how I anticipated this year to go. I put a lot of work in this offseason. I just wanted it really bad.

“It’s very unfortunate, but I’m not going to sit around and feel bad for myself. I’m just going to keep pushing every day and do everything I can to help this team win when I’m back.”

Teel’s offseason work was noticeable as far back as SoxFest in late January, when he showed off increased muscle mass during that fan event. Unfortunately for the 24-year-old, his litany of injuries began shortly after Spring Training.

During a World Baseball Classic contest on March 10 between his Team Italy squad and USA, Teel suffered a Grade 2 right hamstring strain while running out a double. He endured a right knee lateral collateral ligament strain on May 16 while rehabbing with Triple-A Charlotte and getting his cleats caught on a swing.

Then, in the second inning of a 10-3 victory over the Rangers Monday, Teel suffered the injury trying to tag out Ezequiel Duran at the plate. The passionate and energetic catcher explained the mishap in greater detail, as he waited to get final assessments from the doctors after an MRI on Tuesday morning.

“You know, twisted around to go get the ball and put a tag down. Just felt like I made contact with somebody and I didn’t. Just felt like I was hit in the ankle with something,” Teel said. “I tried to get up. It just didn’t feel good. Just kind of unfortunate.”

Venable and White Sox head athletic trainer James Kruk supported Teel off the field, and he was on crutches postgame. Without Teel, the White Sox recalled Edgar Quero from Triple-A Charlotte as a corresponding move to Teel’s 10-day IL placement.

Entering Tuesday, White Sox catchers ranked last in the Majors with a .512 OPS. They're a bottom 10 unit in terms of home runs (9), but they're also last in average (.166) and on-base percentage (.243), according to MLB research.

Going outside the organization is an option for the White Sox, although general manager Chris Getz figured to be focused upon pitching despite sitting atop the American League Central.

“Getzy's job is to always look at how we can improve our team,” Venable said. “My job, our job here, is to give these guys everything they need to be at their best and support them and try and get them better and try and win some games.

“So, that's what we'll do. I know Getzy will be doing whatever he can, not just specific to the catcher position. It's a round-the-year job to look at how to improve our roster.”

A full strength and healthy Teel certainly would improve the roster. But the White Sox have fought their way to the AL’s No. 2 seed with only 19 games and a .589 OPS from an individual considered by many as the best all-around player on the club at the end of the 2025 season.

Twelve weeks would leave Teel gone through most of the playoffs. Six weeks, on the low end, gives Teel a chance for September assistance. He wants to help as soon as possible, but he also wants to make sure he’s right before returning.

“It’s important to listen to your body. I think that’s the No. 1 thing. Don’t try to rush anything,” Teel said. “I don’t want to hold myself to a timeline where I’m not ready. It’s listening to your body, communicating to people you are working with about how you are doing. … But my biggest focus is just getting back as soon as possible.”

“With a range that big and Kyle being a young, strong man, he can go about his treatment and rehab and hopefully make it as quick as possible,” Venable said. “As we continue to progress through this, we'll be able to be more accurate with timelines. At the same time I think it's broad and wide because obviously we don't know, and obviously there's a lot of different directions that it can go.”