Kyle Teel Hoping Roki Sasaki Home Run The Start Of Big Things With White Sox

But as the 23-year-old White Sox prospect warmed up in the on-deck circle in the backfields at Camelback Ranch on Tuesday, he took a peek into the Dodgers dugout and saw Japanese sensation Roki Sasaki make his way to the mound.

At that moment, reality kicked in. 

It suddenly made sense to Teel why dozens of Dodger fans were surrounding the field and why so many media members were lined up along the third base side with their phones and cameras out. It was the second time Sasaki faced off against live hitters this spring, but the first time against hitters that weren’t his teammates.

“I didn’t really know what he had just because we didn’t have any reports on him or anything,” Teel said. “I just knew he had a good fastball and a good splitter.”

Though Teel didn’t have time to process facing Sasaki, it only took two pitches for him to get a handle on the superstar righthander who made such big waves this offseason when he entered the international market.

Teel smashed a fastball in the middle of the zone and admired the ball as it sailed over the right field fence.

In any other instance, a home run on a practice field wouldn’t even be worth a whisper. But that one swing against Sasaki, who broke Shohei Ohtani’s high school record for fastest pitch (101 mph), sent a loud message.

Teel, who ranked 52nd in Baseball America’s Top 100 Prospects this preseason, gained thousands of followers on social media after the homer. His phone would not stop buzzing from the notifications he was getting from friends, family and former teammates. 

“I definitely have been getting a lot of attention,” Teel said.

As pleased as he was to go deep against Sasaki, Teel doesn’t want that to be his defining moment.

Chicago acquired the lefthanded-hitting catcher from the Red Sox in December along with Braden Montgomery, Chase Meidroth and Wikelman González in exchange for Garrett Crochet. Teel was considered the centerpiece in the deal. Since arriving to camp, he’s acclimated to his new organization, worked on the small details of the game and taken advantage of the resources the White Sox have offered him.

“The big thing I worked on was staying loose and being an athlete,” Teel said. “That’s something that’s overlooked a lot at the plate. Guys try to hit on one model, but I just need to work on becoming a better athlete.”

Teel is a line-drive hitter who maintains a patient approach, staying back on the ball with a small stride that leads to a strong, stable front side. He demonstrates an ability to hit to the opposite field—a skill that should contribute to an average hit tool—with his aggressive hip rotation propelling his swing. 

Teel can also make contact through different areas of the strike zone and he’s generated high exit velocities reaching up to 110 mph. In 112 games split between Double-A and Triple-A last year, he slashed .288/.386/.433 with 13 home runs and 78 RBIs.

Defensively, he still has adjustments to make, but reports during Teel’s stint with Triple-A Worcester last season indicated he’s putting in the work. He can also play in the outfield but has expressed his desire to remain behind the plate.

It’ll be crucial for Teel to be polished throughout all areas of his game as he continues to develop. While Teel is Chicago’s No. 4 prospect, fellow catcher Edgar Quero, who was acquired at the 2023 deadline in the deal that sent Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez to the Angels, slots in just behind him at at No. 6.

Quero slashed .280/.366/.463 with 16 home runs and 70 RBIs in 2024 between Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte.

The White Sox need improvements in all areas, especially after a 121-loss season that tied the record for most losses in the modern era. Catcher, in particular, is a big position of need. Korey Lee played in 125 games for Chicago last season and batted .210 with a .591 OPS and 37 RBIs. 

Teel has taken the time to absorb as much knowledge as possible from every catcher in camp, and he credits Lee and former all-star Omar Narváez with helping him this spring. Ultimately, he wants to hang on to all the information he gains as he begins his White Sox career while hoping a callup to the majors comes this season.

“It’s important to be a sponge,” Teel said. “We have a lot of great catchers in this organization. So it’s just what I can learn from them.”