The White Sox got the jolt they were waiting for on Friday, and it comes at a time when they badly need it. Kyle Teel has been reinstated from the 10-day injured list, giving Chicago its starting catcher back after another frustrating stretch behind the plate.
Teel’s return also brings a shuffle with it. Drew Romo was optioned to Triple-A, though he is expected to stay on the taxi squad and could be brought back up at any time. The move gives the White Sox a different look at catcher, with Teel set to take over as the starter and Jake Rogers surprisingly chosen as the backup.
Chicago’s catching situation has been a mess all season. Edgar Quero, Romo, Rogers, Reese McGuire and Joey Bart have all been asked to fill the void, and the production has not been there.
Teel’s own season has been slowed by bad injury luck, too. After a promising rookie year in 2025, he has been limited to 19 games in 2026 and has struggled to find any rhythm.
A hamstring injury suffered in the World Baseball Classic and then a knee injury during a rehab assignment pushed his debut back to June 22, and in 70 plate appearances he is hitting just .190/.271/.317 with two home runs.
Then came another setback. On July 20, Teel sprained his ankle on a play at the plate and has been sidelined since.
Will Venable said recently that Teel was very close to returning, and this move confirms it. His first major league game in more than a month now gives the White Sox a chance to reset the position as they try to keep their division title hopes alive after a series loss to the Houston Astros.
Romo’s season has been rough overall, with a .141/.239/.288 line and seven home runs in 60 games. Most of that power came early, during the first couple of weeks.
Lately, though, there have been signs of life. Over his last 15 games, he has hit .171/.306/.317, showing better plate discipline than he had earlier in the year.
His defense has also improved over the past couple of weeks, with more runners thrown out and more efficient use of his challenges.
Even with that uptick, the White Sox are going in a different direction for now. Rogers gets the backup job despite his own struggles. In 12 games and 30 at-bats with Chicago, he is hitting .133/.235/.233, though he does have a walk-off home run on his ledger.
Teel’s return solves one problem, but not all of them. He can’t catch every day, especially with the injury issues that have followed him this season. The White Sox will keep searching for the right answer behind him as the postseason gets closer.
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Luis Robert Jrs Latest Move Says Plenty About The White Sox
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Former D-Backs Outfielder Just Got Another Shot To Revive His Career
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Fletcher reached free agency after triggering a release clause in his minor league deal with the Pirates, then moved on after spending the 2024 season in Triple-A with Pittsburgh. For a player still trying to rebuild momentum, Louisville offers a fresh runway, and it also keeps him in the mix if Cincinnati needs help later in the year. [Read more 🡒]