Teel (left ankle sprain) ahead of initial timeline with recovery

CHICAGO – Kyle Teel is not putting an official timeline for his return to the White Sox from a high left ankle sprain sustained July 20 in Texas.

But the White Sox starting catcher seems excited by the progress he’s making in the rehab process.

“Doing great, progressing every day,” the upbeat Teel told MLB.com prior to Wednesday’s game against the Reds at Rate Field. “My running has gone well. … When I started off running this week, it’s like reaching half of my top sprint speed and now I’m pushing 90% top sprint speed. We hit a jump in our progression and it’s going really well. Starting to introduce more lateral stuff. Getting ready for the stress I would be facing in the game, and overall just doing normal rehab stuff.”

Teel took dry swings Tuesday. In his first day really swinging on Wednesday, he was able to do some tee work and flips.

It’s a big change from when he first sustained the injury trying to tag out Ezequiel Duran at home plate in the second inning of a 10-3 victory, as he was diagnosed with an 8-12 week absence. The MRI the ensuing day reduced the time out of action, as Teel told MLB.com in Arlington, but he feels great improvement simply comparing his work along the rehab trail.

“Even two weeks ago, I had the boot on, I was still limping around, and now I’m able to run 90%,” Teel said. “It’s pretty wild how quickly I healed. Now it’s taking care of the little things and hopefully back really soon. I’m honestly blessed. I got really lucky.”

This 2026 season has not been kind to Teel injury-wise. During a World Baseball Classic contest on March 10 between his Team Italy squad and Team USA, Teel sustained 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.

Once again, there’s optimism with this injury, but Teel is not getting ahead of himself with any sort of projected return date based on past positive feelings.

“When I feel ready to go, we are going. I feel good,” Teel said. “I’m ready for the weather to get a little cooler and it’s September baseball.”

White Sox manager Will Venable confirmed Teel’s strong progress. Venable also spoke of Teel doing catching activities, more stationary drills, but is excited with where he’s currently situated.

“He’s not popping up and throwing guys out,” Venable said. “More keeping the framing and receiving mechanics in position. Staying sharp. He’s touching all the things. There’s just going to be the running, it’s going to be the thing that is slower to catch up than everything else. You would like to think one week from now, as far as hitting goes, he’s kind of full-go hitting.

“Behind that will be the defensive stuff, the running stuff. More of the non-hitting stuff. And so you hope he progresses to a point where without putting a firm timeline, at the end of the month, around then he’s looking at a rehab assignment. I don’t think that’s too premature, but that’s also leaving some room for a week on either side.”