Kyle Henry Teel[1] (born February 15, 2002) is an American professional baseball catcher in the Boston Red Sox organization.

Kyle Teel
Boston Red Sox
Catcher
Born: (2002-02-15) February 15, 2002 (age 22)
Ridgewood, New Jersey, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Career highlights and awards

Amateur career edit

Teel grew up in Mahwah, New Jersey, and attended Mahwah High School. On the baseball team he played shortstop primarily, as well as outfielder, pitcher, and catcher.[2] He had a .574 batting average in 61 at bats with eight home runs and 31 RBIs as a junior.[2] Teel was named the New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year during his senior year.[3] He also was the starting quarterback of Mahwah's football team.[4]

Teel was considered a top high school catching prospect in the 2020 MLB draft, but opted out.[5] After graduating high school, he played summer collegiate baseball for the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters of the Northwoods League, and posted a .258/.348/.392 slash line in 97 at bats.[6]

Teel played as a designated hitter (19 games), right fielder (19 games), and catcher (15 games) as a freshman at the University of Virginia, and was named third-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) at designated hitter after slashing .335/.416/.526 with 70 hits, nine home runs, and 41 RBIs in 209 at bats.[2][7] He slashed .276/.402/.439 with 12 doubles, six home runs, and 45 RBIs in 221 at bats during his sophomore season, playing primarily catcher.[8] After the season, Teel played collegiate summer baseball with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League,[9] and was selected to play for the United States collegiate national team.[10]

Teel entered his junior season as a projected first round pick in the 2023 MLB draft.[11] On May 22, 2023, Teel was named ACC Player of the Year in baseball.[12] In late June, he was named the 2023 recipient of the Buster Posey Award, a national catcher of the year award.[13] He was also a consensus selection to the 2023 College Baseball All-America Team.[14]

Professional career edit

Teel was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the first round, with the 14th overall selection, of the 2023 Major League Baseball draft.[15] On July 21, 2023, Teel signed with the Red Sox,[16] reportedly for a $4 million signing bonus.[17] He made his professional debut on August 3, in the Florida Complex League (FCL) with the FCL Red Sox.[18] He was promoted to the High-A Greenville Drive on August 9.[19]

Teel began the 2024 season with the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs, ranked as the Red Sox' number three minor-league prospect by Baseball America.[20]

References edit

  1. ^ "Teels: Family sports legacy grows". The Record. Hackensack, New Jersey. September 20, 2002. p. S-12. Retrieved July 11, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b c "Kyle Teel". Virginia Cavaliers Official Athletic Site. January 12, 2021.
  3. ^ Samuels, Montana (May 27, 2020). "Mahwah High's Kyle Teel Named NJ Gatorade Player Of The Year". Patch.com. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  4. ^ "Virginia baseball standout Kyle Teel developed toughness playing high school football". The Daily Progress. June 16, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  5. ^ King III, George A. (April 24, 2020). "NJ baseball star Kyle Teel passes on draft and will attend Virginia". New York Post. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  6. ^ "Virginia baseball signee Kyle Teel proving he belongs in Northwoods League". The Daily Progress. July 10, 2020. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  7. ^ "After a full offseason of preparation, Kyle Teel takes the reins as Virginia's full-time catcher". The Daily Progress. February 10, 2022. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  8. ^ Newton, Matt (December 14, 2022). "Two Virginia Baseball Players Listed in Top 100 Prospects for 2023 MLB Draft". SI.com. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  9. ^ "Kyle Teel - Profile". pointstreak.com. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  10. ^ "After brief stint at the Cape, UVA baseball stars Gelof and Teel trying out for Team USA". Richmond Times-Dispatch. June 29, 2022. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  11. ^ "College Baseball Week One Standouts: Paul Skenes Shines, Kyle Teel Gets On Track". Baseball America. February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  12. ^ "Teel Voted ACC Player of the Year, Seven Cavaliers Honored". virginiasports.com. May 22, 2023.
  13. ^ "Teel Claims Nation's Top Catching Honor". Virginia Athletics. June 30, 2023.
  14. ^ Newton, Matt (June 30, 2023). "Kyle Teel Named Consensus First-Team All-American, Nation's Top Catcher". Cavaliers Now. Retrieved July 11, 2023 – via MSN.com.
  15. ^ "MLB Draft 2023: Tracking all the Red Sox picks on the final day". The Boston Globe. July 11, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  16. ^ "Red Sox Roster & Staff: Transactions". MLB.com. Boston Red Sox. July 2023. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  17. ^ Franco, Anthony (July 21, 2023). "Red Sox Agree To Terms With Their Top Two Draft Picks". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  18. ^ Osgood, Bob (August 4, 2023). "Minor Lines 8/3/23: Bombs Away in Worcester; Kyle Teel and Nazzan Zanetello debut". overthemonster.com. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  19. ^ McCarthy, Colin (August 9, 2023). "Red Sox first-round pick Kyle Teel dazzles in Greenville debut". The Boston Globe. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  20. ^ Speier, Alex (April 1, 2024). "A look at the Red Sox' full-season minor league affiliates and the top prospects at each level". The Boston Globe. Retrieved April 1, 2024.

External links edit