Kyle Teel – The Player Comps

The White Sox are at that point in their (whatever number) rebuild that you really don’t know too much about the players that are expected to rise up from the earth like the second stanza of Michael Jackson’s Thriller and take over Sox Park. Sure you might know if they are ranked, or if you attended Sox Fest LIVE! you might have caught a quick glimpse and because they had uniforms on you could match player to name, but truthfully you don’t know much about these guys. Me either. Even prospect write-ups are of limited utility to you, the everyday fan.

So, it implores me to do something that the prospect hawks hate. PLAYER COMPS!! Now, the standard explanation from these folks is each player is different and you don’t want to layer a former player over a unique player, but that’s all bullshit. They just don’t want their fucked up player comp stuck in your head when dude fails. Who wants to be the guy that claimed Brooks Baldwin got some Luis Arraez to him? You don’t want to be the guy that claimed Nick Madrigal was destined for 3,000 hits and kept calling him LASERSHOW, do you? Nah, nobody does, but here, we’ll be brave and try it. Enjoy!

If Everything Goes Wrong Kyle Teel Will Be Tucker Barnhart

Most of yous are probably looking at this one and saying, well this isn’t bad at all. Barnhart played for a decade plus and although he didn’t hit much, he was still a contributor. That’s the thing about doing research for this. For someone like Kyle Teel who it is pretty much settled will be able to handle the position defensively and has additional athleticism allowing him to run a bit and possibly grab a glove elsewhere AND appears to have some on-base skills, this is their life. These catchers play for a decade plus even if they don’t end up hitting a lick.

It was wild to go through these guys. In the end, I picked a recognizable face to represent this group. I almost picked otherwise famous guys like Joe Girardi or AJ Hinch in this spot as they’d work too, but it’s crazy the utility a solid defender at the catcher position has, it’s like being a registered nurse, there is always demand for those skills.

If Things Go Pretty Good Kyle Teel Will Be Brad Ausmus

Brad Ausmus played for 10,000 years and was the consummate defense first catcher. He played high volume (for a catcher) due materially to his athleticism and his ability to handle a pitching staff. When he had good offensive years, the WAR value was substantial and when he didn’t, it wasn’t, but he carved out a substantial career without his bat leading the way. He got good at all the other things that a catcher is built for and thrived with it. I’d expect Teel to hit more than Ausmus and maybe be less on the defensive side, but you can envision a long career where dugouts and pitching staffs alike are wanting this man’s behind the dish for them.

If Everything Goes Right Kyle Teel Will Be Russell Martin

If it all goes right…the speed, the on-base ability, the power, the defense, the naked reps….we might have a Russell Martin on our hands. A truly top end contributor at the catcher position, perennial All-Star, team leader type. I tend to think Teel will have less batting average and probably more pull side power, but if it all comes together and the athleticism shows up in the profile from top to bottom. Yea.

-BeefLoaf