Devin Pearson on drafting Kyle Teel: ‘It was kind of a no-brainer’
The Red Sox consulted mock drafts and their own draft board before heading into the first round of the 2023 MLB Draft. As unpredictable as the draft can go, they had no idea that University of Virginia catcher Kyle Teel would fall to them at No. 14 overall.
“We didn’t really know it was going to be a possibility until the draft played itself out,” new amateur scouting director Devin Pearson said. “I think we expected him to go higher. But a draft is a draft. To be able to add a catcher in the middle of the first round, a college catcher, doesn’t happen all the time. For us, it was kind of a no-brainer at that point to draft him.”
Teel was widely projected to be a top-10 pick, but after sliding in the draft, the Sox were able to draft the Cavaliers catcher.
Regarded as the top catcher in the draft class, Teel played three seasons at Virginia. In 65 games, the New Jersey native posted a .407 batting average while driving in 69 runs. He also showcased some power as 38 of 107 hits went for extra bases. During his tenure at Virginia, Teel posted a .979 OPS in 177 games.
“Kyle is a guy that we had very high on our board for obvious reasons,” Red Sox director of amateur scouting Devin Pearson released in a statement. “He had an unbelievable 2023 season offensively and is arguably one of the best college athletes in the Draft. We think he’s going to be really valuable for us. We’re excited to add an athletic catcher to the system, and we were thrilled to get him with the 14th pick.”
As the first round unfolded, Pearson said the Red Sox were focused on picking the best available player.
“He’s a really, really good athlete,” Pearson said. “I think, normally, you find catchers with that type of athleticism tend to not be elite-level hitters but he fills that bucket as well.”
Teel enters the Red Sox organization and immediately climbs up the depth charts at the position. SoxProspects.com ranks Johanfran Garcia as the best catching prospect in the system at No. 16; Nathan Hickey, who is with the Sea Dogs, is ranked No. 21 and Salem’s Brook Brannon is at No. 31.
Garcia is playing for the FCL Red Sox and is enjoying a great season offensively hitting .337 with 29 hits, eight doubles, two triples, three homers and 22 RBI with a 1.013 OPS in 23 games.
Teel is the first catcher the Red Sox have taken in the first round since they selected Blake Swihart with the 26th overall selection in the 2011 MLB Draft. He is the highest catcher selected since 1984 when the organization selected John Marzano out of Temple University.
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