Red Sox catching prospect Kyle Teel on the ABS challenge system: ‘It definitely gives you an advantage’
Red Sox catching prospect Kyle Teel started behind the plate on Tuesday night, reaching his fourth minor league level in just 13 months since being drafted No. 14 overall during the 2023 MLB Draft.
Teel caught returning left-hander Shane Drohan, who started for the WooSox for the first time since last season. While behind the plate, Teel looked sharp as he called a successful winning game while utilizing the ABS challenge system to his advantage.
The 22-year-old won two challenges as a catcher and one at the plate while hitting.
"It's great," Teel said. "I wish I used a few more. It was my first time using it. I was a little conservative. I wanted to be careful and make sure they were going to go my way.
"It definitely gives you an advantage. At the plate, especially, you make a good take. That's a hard thing to do. You practice taking those pitches. It pays off more when you can challenge. As a catcher, it's great, too. Say you make a bad move on a pitch and he calls it a ball, you can still challenge it and get the pitch back. It's great both ways on offense and defense."
Outside of the ABS system, Teel was also able to work with some pitchers he’s familiar with from his time with the Portland Sea Dogs. During the WooSox’ 5-4 win on Tuesday night, Teel was able to catch right-handed reliever Wyatt Olds and left-hander Zach Penrod.
“It was a great reunion working with the guys I caught before in Double-A,” said Teel. “I know their stuff is great, and nothing really changed; they did their job; it was awesome. The guys that I wasn’t familiar with, it was a pretty easy process to get to know them. They did a great job telling me what they have, and it was a pretty easy process to get to know them.”
Teel spoke highly of Penrod, whom the WooSox are utilizing out of the bullpen, with the thoughts of him possibly helping the Red Sox down the stretch this season.
“He’s got a really elite fastball,” said Teel. “He’s got a really good slider, and he has the changeup that’s elite as well. Easy catch; honestly, he puts it in the zone; it was great.”
