Chicago White Sox catcher Kyle Teel, playing for Team Italy, delivered a strong performance—including a home run and double—in Tuesday's 8-6 World Baseball Classic Pool B upset victory over Team USA at Daikin Park in Houston before exiting with a right hamstring injury. Italy plans to replace him with bullpen catcher Andres Annunziata.
In the Pool B matchup of the 2026 World Baseball Classic, 24-year-old catcher Kyle Teel went 4-for-6 overall in pool play, highlighted by a solo home run to the Crawford Boxes in the second inning off Nolan McLean, a walk in the fourth, and a hustle double in the sixth. However, Teel injured his right hamstring while sliding into second base on that double, wincing in pain and pounding the ground before exiting the game.
Italy manager Francisco Cervelli confirmed the roster move: "He's one of my catchers in Italy. That's the only one we've got. He's been working hard with us. I think he's the guy, because we don't have anybody else." Bullpen catcher Andres Annunziata will take Teel's spot.
A 2023 first-round pick (14th overall) by the Boston Red Sox, Teel was acquired by the Chicago White Sox in the trade for Garrett Crochet. In his MLB debut season, he hit .273/.375/.411 with 8 home runs and 11 doubles in 78 games.
