Receiving the opportunity to participate in the World Baseball Classic is an honor for players, but it also comes with the risk of injury. Players are still adjusting to the grind of a season once again following the offseason, and WBC games obviously bring much more intensity than spring training contests. On Tuesday night, the Chicago White Sox had one of their fears come to fruition, as catcher Kyle Teel suffered an injury during the USA-Italy WBC game.

Jeff Passan of ESPN reported the news on X (formerly Twitter).

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“White Sox catcher Kyle Teel is coming out of the game and limping off the field after hitting a double down the line for team Italy. Looks like he pulled something between first and second. Brutal. Teel’s had a brilliant game for Italy, homering as they lead Team USA, 5-0,” Passan wrote.

Teel is playing for Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic. He played a significant role in helping Italy take a big lead over Team USA early in the matchup. As of this story’s writing, Team Italy holds an 8-1 lead, as they are poised for one of the biggest upsets of the entire tournament. They certainly were not expected to upset Team USA.

However, the White Sox and Team Italy are hoping that Teel avoided a serious injury.

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White Sox’s Kyle Teel Suffers Injury Scare in World Baseball Classic

Teel suffered the injury while running to second base for a double. He clearly hurt something between the base paths and slammed second base in frustration after sliding into the bag. He was quickly removed from the contest, but Teel was able to walk off the field.

Teel, 24, was a highly regarded prospect heading into the 2025 season. He played well in his rookie season, slashing .273/.375/.411 across 78 total games played. He added eight home runs while recording an overall .786 OPS. Teel’s ceiling is quite high.

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The White Sox are rebuilding their roster. Chicago is realistically still a few years away from truly contending in the American League. With that being said, the ball club is taking steps in the right direction. They are hoping that their young core of players can receive as much time together on the field as possible.

At the moment, the severity of Kyle Teel’s injury is uncertain. Updates on his injury status will continue to be provided as they are made available.

Related: Paul Skenes News Emerges Amid World Baseball Classic

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Mar 11, 2026, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.