GLENDALE, Ariz. — Kyle Teel has a goal in mind while recovering from a Grade 2 right hamstring strain.
“The way I look at it is, ‘How can I go through this and come back better than I was before?’ ” the Chicago White Sox catcher said Friday morning at Camelback Ranch. “That’s my No. 1 goal.”
Teel could miss up to six weeks after suffering the injury on Tuesday while playing for Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic.
“Whether it’s four to six weeks, three weeks, we’re going to have to wait and see how I respond to everything,” Teel said. “I’m feeling better, but I want to come out of this stronger than before.”
Teel and outfielder Brooks Baldwin (elbow soreness) provided progress reports Friday. Teel’s setback occurred while running to second base for a double in the sixth inning for Italy against the United States in Houston.
“I hit first base and I didn’t slow down, but I peaked my head up to look where the ball was and I think I kicked it into another gear when I saw how close the outfielder was,” Teel said. “I just felt it, I just felt it tightened up right away. I made sure to get to second base, but it is what it is.”
Teel went 4-for-6 with one home run, one RBI and two runs in two games for Italy, which plays Puerto Rico in a quarterfinal Saturday.
“Unbelievable experience,” Teel said. “That team is so much fun to be a part of. (Sox infielder and Italy teammate) Sam (Antonacci) is a dog. He just surprised me so much, he’s just such a great player and for him to never play in the big leagues and to go out on that stage and leave it out there like he did and how he’s going to, it’s just unbelievable.
“We’ve got close very quick (as a team). We share something that’s very close to us. We’re winning games on the biggest stage and we weren’t supposed to.”
Italy went 4-0 in pool play, including an 8-6 win against the United States in the game in which Teel suffered the injury.
Team Italy’s Kyle Teel grabs his right hamstring after hitting a double against Team USA in the sixth inning during the World Baseball Classic at Daikin Park on March 10, 2026, in Houston. (Kenneth Richmond/Getty)
“That was probably one of the most fun baseball games I’ve ever been a part of,” Teel said. “I don’t even have words to describe it. It was just unbelievable. I’m just so grateful to be in that game.”
Teel believes the entire experience will be beneficial going forward.
“The way (Kansas City Royals infielder) Vinnie Pasquantino leads a team is just something I’m taking note of,” Teel said. “The way he goes about his business, the way he talks to everybody. He has a way of making people feel included but also making sure people get their work done. He can be light but also be serious. Being with that group I learned a lot.”
Italy first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino celebrates a home run with a shot of expresso in a World Baseball Classic game against Mexico on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in Houston. (Ashley Landis/AP)
Teel also joked that he wouldn’t mind an addition of an espresso machine, which Italy had in the dugout. Players celebrated home runs by taking an espresso shot.
“It’s a good reward system,” Teel said.
Teel’s injury comes at a time when he felt his approach “really started to come together.”
“My swings were feeling good,” Teel said. “Being in spring, still hitting balls hard but not really having the success I wanted here. Being able to go over there and finally see it pay off, and on a big stage play winning baseball, I thought it was really awesome.
“It’s funny how this game works. There’s ups and downs. But it’s just trying to fail forward and just keep going.”
Baldwin’s status has been day to day. He last played in a Cactus League game on March 6.
“Just had a day or so there of soreness,” Baldwin said Friday morning. “And something you feel like you can manage through. Threw from the outfield one day and the soreness kind of amplified a little bit. Talking to the trainers, we got an image, we got everything done. But a lot of soreness in there, try to get it to calm down and take it day to day and see where we’re at.”
Baldwin said imaging showed “just a lot of inflammation in there.”
“Right now just taking it day to day and try to see how it goes,” Baldwin said.
Time change
The start time for the March 21 Sox-Cincinnati Reds game at Goodyear Ballpark has been changed to 8:05 p.m. CT because of extreme heat. It was originally scheduled for 3:05 p.m.