Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Arm: 65 | Field: 50 | Overall: 55

Teel was a very good high school prospect in New Jersey, one who was considered a Top 100 talent, until he removed his name from Draft consideration during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season in order to honor his commitment to the University of Virginia. He’s been a full-time starter since he arrived in Charlottesville, putting up better numbers as a freshman than he did as a sophomore and is generally considered to be the top college backstop in the class of 2023.

A left-handed-hitting backstop, Teel has the chance to hit for average and power, though he’s gotten caught a bit in between trying to be a hitter with some pop or a power guy. He was more hit over power in high school, but he has been trying to show off the pop more, perhaps a reason why he hit just .276 in 2022, though he’s found the right balance this spring. He does have an advanced approach, walking more than he struck out last year, and while struggles in the Cape Cod League and with Team USA last summer led some to worry about the hit tool, he’s answered them during his junior year.

Extremely athletic, Teel has seen time in the outfield and probably could handle playing second or third, but he has every chance to stick behind the plate. He has an easily plus arm and his athleticism helps his overall receiving. He gets high marks for his baseball IQ and leadership skills, and with his bat showing up more consistently, his name is floating up Draft boards.

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 45 | Arm: 60 | Field: 55 | Overall: 55 

One of the top high school catching prospects in the 2020 class, Teel might have gone in the top three rounds had he not withdrawn from the Draft because he wanted to attend Virginia. He blossomed into the consensus best backstop in the 2023 Draft after hitting .407/.475/.655 and winning Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year honors last spring, yet he dropped to the Red Sox at No. 14. Signed for $4 million, he batted .363/.482/.495 and reached Double-A in his pro debut.

After focusing too much on power as a sophomore, Teel learned that he can make more consistent hard contact when he doesn't swing for the fences. More hitter than slugger, he has a sound left-handed swing and a disciplined, all-fields approach. He features 20-homer upside and should produce plenty of doubles with pop that plays to all parts of the ballpark. 

Quicker and more athletic than most catchers, Teel presently has average speed but will lose some quickness as he spends more time behind the plate. With plus arm strength and impressive accuracy, he threw out 38 percent of basestealers during his junior season and 29 percent during his pro debut. His receiving continues to improve, and he has a knack for stealing strikes with his framing skills.

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Arm: 60 | Field: 50 | Overall: 55 

Teel could have gone in the top three rounds in 2020 as a New Jersey high schooler, but he withdrew early from the Draft because he wanted to attend Virginia. He slumped as a sophomore but rebounded to bat .407/.475/.655 and earn Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year accolades this spring. The consensus top catcher in the 2023 Draft, he surprisingly slipped a bit to the Red Sox at No. 14 and signed for $4 million. 

After selling out for power too much in 2022, Teel settled down and hit the ball with more authority without worrying about home runs as a junior. A left-handed hitter, he controls the strike zone well and makes consistent hard contact to all fields. He has 20-homer potential and his pop plays from foul pole to foul pole. 

Extremely athletic for a backstop, Teel has average speed but will lose some quickness the longer he remains behind the plate. He used his plus arm strength to throw out 38 percent of basestealers this spring and his receiving continues to improve as he gains more experience. He split time between catcher and right field as a freshman and moves well enough to handle an outfield corner in pro ball. 

New Jersey has seen three players get drafted in the first two rounds over the last four Drafts: first-rounders Jay Groome (2016) and Anthony Volpe (2019) and second-round pick Nick Decker (2018). There's never been a prep catcher from the Garden State taken in the top 10 rounds, but Teel is hoping to be the first.

Teel's calling cards are his defense behind the plate and his overall athleticism. He has a plus arm that helps control the running game and his agility behind the dish helps to make him a very capable receiver. That athleticism also gives him the ability to move around the diamond, and he played every position except pitcher at the East Coast Professional Showcase over the summer. Teel does have some offensive upside, though a hitch in his swing causes concern for some scouts. He did show he could adjust and make hard contact against a higher level of competition on the summer showcase circuit tour. There is strength in his left-handed swing and he could eventually develop average power.

While there is risk with his bat, the combination of offensive ceiling with his defensive acumen, not to mention the ability to be a super-utility man, should attract many teams. Back in 2013, a high school catcher named Matt Thaiss came out of the New Jersey high school ranks and was taken in the 32nd round by the Red Sox. He opted to go to the University of Virginia and emerged as a first-round pick three years later, and Teel could take the same exact path.

Awards

EAS Post-Season All-Star

Year	Team
2024

Baseball America Double-A All-Star

Year	Team
2024

Futures Game Selection

Year	Team
2024

EAS Player of the Week

Week	Team
06/02/2024

EAS Player of the Month

Month	Team
05/2024

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	08/12/2024	C Kyle Teel assigned to Worcester Red Sox from Portland Sea Dogs.
	07/19/2024	Portland Sea Dogs activated C Kyle Teel from the temporarily inactive list.
	07/14/2024	American League Futures activated C Kyle Teel.
	07/12/2024	Portland Sea Dogs placed C Kyle Teel on the temporarily inactive list.
	03/07/2024	Boston Red Sox Prospects activated C Kyle Teel.
	02/25/2024	C Kyle Teel assigned to Boston Red Sox.
	09/05/2023	C Kyle Teel assigned to Portland Sea Dogs from Greenville Drive.
	08/08/2023	C Kyle Teel assigned to Greenville Drive from FCL Red Sox.
	08/03/2023	C Kyle Teel assigned to FCL Red Sox.
	07/21/2023	Boston Red Sox signed C Kyle Teel.
	05/24/2023	College Workout activated C Kyle Teel.
	05/20/2023	C Kyle Teel assigned to Virginia Cavaliers.
	07/02/2022	USAB Stars Team activated C Kyle Teel.
	07/01/2022	C Kyle Teel and assigned to College Workout.
	05/04/2022	C Kyle Teel and assigned to Virginia Cavaliers.