A hit, a run, two walks and a caught stealing were part of Chicago White Sox catcher Kyle Teel’s major league debut on Friday, a 7-2 victory against the visiting Kansas City Royals.
On Saturday afternoon, Teel will aim to secure another milestone — his first winning streak as a big-leaguer — in the second contest of a three-game set against the Royals.
Chicago used a five-run eighth inning Friday to improve to 3-2 on a seven-game homestand that features added intrigue after the White Sox promoted Teel — their No. 2 prospect and No. 25 overall, according to MLB Pipeline. The 23-year-old was hitting .295 with eight home runs and 30 RBIs this season at Triple-A Charlotte.
“It’s cool. This is something I dreamed about since I was a little kid. Everything I worked for comes up to this point,” Teel said. “So this is awesome. I would just say that working hard and being consistent with my process every single day is what I did, and I don’t expect that to stop.
“Just keep my head down and keep working hard. That’s a big part of my game, just being a hard-nosed ballplayer.”
Chicago snapped a 10-game losing streak against Kansas City. The White Sox will turn to veteran right-hander Adrian Houser (1-1, 1.47 ERA) to try to continue the good vibes.
Houser, who has delivered quality starts in his three outings since joining Chicago, realizes he might be a valuable chip for a rebuilding franchise at the trade deadline next month. Still, he’s equally quick to pivot from the subject.
“Right now, my process is taking it day by day, and I’m having a good time with these guys, having fun, and that’s just how I’m gonna go about it,” Houser said.
Kansas City built an early lead Friday behind back-to-back home runs from Maikel Garcia and Vinnie Pasquantino, who extended his on-base streak to 22 games.
Garcia matched a career high set last season with his seventh home run.
The Royals promoted their top prospect this week as slugger Jac Caglianone joined the team Tuesday in St. Louis.
Caglianone notched the first hit of his career in the opener of Thursday’s doubleheader against the Cardinals but has struggled overall. He went 0-for-4 with a strikeout on Friday and is batting .059 (1-for-17). The 22-year-old was the No. 6 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft.
Bobby Witt Jr. and Drew Waters helped to keep the Kansas City attack afloat with two hits each.
The Royals, who have scored six fewer runs this season than the American League-worst White Sox, are looking for offense anywhere they can find it amid a 4-6 stretch.
“I think the offense is coming up. … We’re fighting more with two strikes. We’re striking out less than we were before,” Garcia said. “And that’s who we are.”
Houser is 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA in three career appearances (two starts) against the Royals covering 10 innings.
Kansas City right-hander Michael Wacha (3-4, 2.88), set to start Saturday, has been dominant against the White Sox in his career, going 6-1 with a 2.83 ERA in 10 starts. That includes a May 7 gem in which he defeated visiting Chicago 2-1 behind seven scoreless innings.
Wacha scattered three hits, one walk and five strikeouts while throwing 60 of his 84 pitches for strikes.
–Field Level Media
–Field Level Media
