ARLINGTON -- If optimism factors into ultimate healing power, then White Sox catcher Kyle Teel might be back in action sooner than expected.
When Teel first suffered the high left ankle sprain in the second inning of a 10-3 victory over the Rangers on Monday, the diagnosis was 8-12 weeks for recovery. But Teel, who idles at upbeat, was very positive when talking pregame Wednesday about a chance for his absence to be more in the 5-8 week run.
Teel told MLB.com the sprain wasn’t as high up as initially thought, which factors into the differing timeline. The left-handed-hitting catcher might be out for the original time frame, and more will be known after further tests are run at the end of this week. But hope really does sustain Teel in this situation.
"It's more about how I respond. So, I’m just hoping it’s on the lower end, obviously,” Teel said. “It was really good news hearing that yesterday. When I initially did it, they were like, ‘Yeah, you are looking at a minimum of eight weeks.’
“Now, again, it could take a long time. But just to hear there’s potential to be a shorter timeline is really good to hear.”
This latest injury came about when Teel took a second-inning throw from right fielder Braden Montgomery and tried to tag Ezequiel Duran in a play at the plate. Teel felt as if something hit his ankle, although it was a non-contact issue.
Monday’s problem marked Teel’s third injury of the 2026 season, coming off a 2025 campaign where he looked to be one of the best overall players on this young roster. Teel has learned about patience along the way.
After suffering a right hamstring strain on March 10 while running out a double for Team Italy during World Baseball Classic action, Teel spoke to MLB.com at the end of Spring Training about hopefully returning at the end of the team’s first homestand from April 6-8. Teel didn’t make his debut until June 22, after suffering a right knee LCL sprain when his cleats caught during a rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte.
Optimism might currently sustain him. But caution is the watchword for Teel.
“One hundred percent,” Teel said. “The hamstring was the first injury I ever went through, so I didn’t understand. … In my head, I’m going to work harder and do more and that’s going to help heal it.
“In reality, you have to kind of do less and let it heal on its own. I really just need to take it easy these next four or five weeks and come back stronger.”
Edgar Quero returned from Charlotte to take Teel’s roster spot. Quero had a .689 OPS over 403 plate appearances as a rookie in 2025, but had a .486 OPS with three extra-base hits this season before being sent to the Knights to work on his game.
Manager Will Venable doesn’t have a set rotation behind the plate between Quero and Drew Romo.
“We'll take it day by day and see where we're at,” Venable said. “Outside of, I guess, left-handed pitchers, we'd probably take a look at Quero and see where we're at with the overall workload. He may get an edge there.”
“I feel sorry for Kyle. It’s been a pretty hard year for him coming back from injuries three times,” Quero said. “But at the same time it’s baseball, and that can happen in the game. It feels good to be back with the team, with the boys, trying to help the team with whatever they need. I’ll be ready.”
Quero wants to contribute to the White Sox playoff cause. Teel leaves Texas buoyed by a chance for him to do the same, sooner than later.
“In my head, the season isn’t over for me,” Teel said. “There’s potential for me to come back and help this team. There’s still baseball to be played.”