No. 03: Red Sox catching prospect Kyle Teel
Kyle Teel was expected to go well before 14th in the 2023 MLB Draft. So much so that no one was even talking about what a perfect fit he was for Boston's system. What was the point? He'd be gone before they selected.
Well, he wasn't gone. And the Red Sox wasted little time in snatching him up.
Teel wasted zero time becoming a top name in the system. He crushed the FCL for a few days, then dominated High-A for a few weeks, and finally humiliated Double-A pitching for two weeks.
The left-handed hitting catcher is slashing .363/.482/.495 with six doubles and two home runs between the two levels. He drove in 22 runs, scored 15 more, and stole three bases in 26 games. Teel walked 21 times compared to just 22 strikeouts.
Yes, those are real numbers. And yes, Teel was seen as a defense-first catcher coming out of College. He wasn't expected to be a bum at the plate, but still, not many were expecting him to cruise like this.
Teel has a great arm with some ridiculous pop time. The 21-year-old looks like a leader behind the plate with fantastic defense. He might not hit a ton of home runs, but the OBP will be high, and his sneaky athleticism will lead to a few steals.
Kyle Teel could be in the Majors by 2024, and don't be surprised if he makes an immediate impact. Franchise catcher potential, Teel has everything a team could want from the catcher position. He comes off as a leader that can command a pitching staff while producing offensively.
Hit: 65
Power: 50
Run: 50
Arm: 70
Field: 65
Overall: 60