One moment you’re a top-rated catching prospect for the Boston Red Sox, a storied franchise with an historic ballpark and nine World Series titles to boast, most recently in 2018.
The next you’re still that prized prospect but with Sox of a different color, with a franchise that set a record for futility last season and hasn’t won a postseason series since the 2005 World Series.
That was 22-year-old catcher Ryan Teel on Wednesday when he received word he and three other Red Sox prospects were traded to the White Sox for Garrett Crochet. Teel was driving, on his way to for a training session.
“I definitely didn’t see it coming at all,” Teel said on a Zoom call Friday, two days after letting the shock set in. “Completely, completely surprised. The emotion I felt was surprise at first but then excited as it settled in. And ready to go.”
Teel, the Red Sox’ fourth-ranked prospect and MLB Pipeline’s third-ranked catching prospect, was the headliner in Boston’s package that reeled in Crochet, a prized All-star left-hander with two years of affordable contract control remaining. Teel said he is “excited” about the possibility of a faster track to the majors in Chicago. A skilled pitch blocker and accurate thrower, his left-handed bat should play well at the Sox’ home ballpark.
Korey Lee is the incumbent at catcher and while sound defensively, he batted .178/.206/.317 with six homers after June 19. Teel, meanwhile, was hitting a combined .288/.386/.433 with an .819 OPS, 13 homers and 12 stolen bases in 505 plate appearances between Double-A and Triple-A. Edgar Quero, ranked ninth among catching prospects, gives the Sox the best minor league tandem at a premium position. Quero posted an .839 OPS between Double-A and Triple-A but Teel looks to be the better defender.
In any case, it’s a promising young pairing.
“Catching is gold right now in this game,” Sox general manager Chris Getz said.
“You’ve got a switch-hitter in Edgar Quero, who’s really strong from the right side currently. And you’ve got Kyle Teel, who’s left-handed and has versatility [outfield] in his background, too. The catching position is just so valuable, and it’s such a hard position to fill. To have two guys like that and a Korey Lee — going back to the foundation of an organization, so many things start up the middle of the diamond, and it starts at the catching position and how much they can impact the game with game-planning and directing traffic on the field. So to have strength there is really important to us.”
The Red Sox drafted the 6-0, 190-pound Teel 14th in 2023 out of Virginia, where he won the Buster Posey Award as college baseball’s top catcher.
“I love the game, I love to get better,” Teel said. “I’m very obsessed with getting better. It’s just ingrained in me. At the field, I’m talking to coaches and talking to players. I love talking the game. I love getting to know guys, personalities. So I would say it’s a combination of loving the game, loving the people around me and just making the most of my time wherever I’m at.”