White Sox catcher Kyle Teel 'ramping up' early for World Baseball Classic

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Catcher Kyle Teel’s spring training will take an unusual turn in less than two weeks when he leaves White Sox camp March 1 to join Team Italy for the World Baseball Classic.

Teel said he started preparing early for the increased intensity of WBC games and feels great about where he’s at.

“Usually in the spring, you ramp up, you’ve got backfield [work], spring training, and then you’ve got games in the big stadium,” Teel said. “But [this is] like zero to 100, and that excites me. I love that feeling. I love that excitement.”

Talks about Teel playing in the WBC started last season with former Sox catching coach Drew Butera, who’s now with the Blue Jays. Former Sox hitting coach Marcus Thames, now with the Royals, helped Teel take the necessary steps.

He admitted he was surprised by the amount of paperwork needed for the WBC.

“There was a lot I had to do,” Teel said.

Three’s a crowd

Teel’s departure will mean more playing time for Edgar Quero and Korey Lee this spring, although the Sox likely will only carry two catchers on their Opening Day roster. Manager Will Venable has all but ruled out carrying a third catcher in a utility role, even as Lee fields grounders in camp.

Although Teel is expected to handle the majority of the catching duties, Venable likes the idea of friendly competition among the three as they work with bench coach Walker McKinven, who has taken over coaching the group.

“All of us lean on each other in different ways,” Teel said. “Korey is the older one in the group. We lean on him for certain things, like, whether it’s routine [stuff]. Q can really back-pick, so we talked to him about that. We all have our own strengths. I feel like we feed each other with that.”

Solid gold

Bullpen catcher Bennett Markinson, 23, was the first Sox staff member to wear the “Cash Money Coach of the Day” chain during the team workout Monday. The gaudy gold chain will be passed to a new recipient at each daily staff meeting.

Venable got the idea from Anthony Iapoce, now the Astros’ assistant hitting coach, when they coached with the Cubs in 2019-20.

“It’s a nice moment [of recognition] to talk about in there, and then you have to wear the chain,” Venable said. “Hopefully, people are asking you why you are wearing this big, awful chain.”

It was quite the early impression for Markinson, who batted .266 with a .783 OPS in 52 games for Northwestern last season.