AL DIVISION SERIES: WHITE SOX VS GUARDIANS

October 5, 2026

Kyle Teel

Progressive Field

Chicago White Sox

Pregame 2 Press Conference

Q. You've been on a really successful run in the playoffs in terms of challenges, but also one is there a good feeling you've had behind that, but also as a team you guys have been really aggressive on challenges all year. How has that preached to you of being aggressive throughout the season?

KYLE TEEL: Yeah, I mean challenges only have value if you use them. Yeah, they're to use them, be aggressive with the challenges. There's no secret. If you think it's a ball, challenge it. Hopefully it's a strike. Other way around when you're batting.

Q. Kyle, what did you kind of learn about yourself going through all the injuries that you went through to get back and get to this point today?

KYLE TEEL: Yeah. I would just say it's a lot more fun playing than it is being in the training room every day. But I mean, other things like just patience, right?

Yeah, I just -- you can add value without playing, but it's a lot more fun to do it playing.

Q. What was the toughest part of the whole process? What was the lowest point? What were you able to do to kind of get to this point as well?

KYLE TEEL: Yeah. I mean, it was a lot of back and forth, you know, like playing and then not playing. It was hard to kind of get a groove at first. But now, you know, it's just -- I'm just so grateful and happy to be out there playing every day.

Q. Kyle, when it comes to playing through the shadows, obviously there's a lot of different difficulties, but being a catcher, has that been able to help you get acclimated dealing with those a little bit sooner when you're in the batting box?

KYLE TEEL: Yeah. I mean, it's definitely challenging. I'm sorry, I don't really understand the question.

Q. Just dealing with the shadows, obviously having to see the ball come in?

KYLE TEEL: Oh, like the actual shadows. Oh, I mean, I thought it was fine. Yeah.

Q. Kyle, as far back as the Sox Fest, I remember you standing there in front of us and telling us that you thought this team could get this far. What made you think that or was it just, I mean, a lot of guys say that in the preseason but you seemed to really believe it?

KYLE TEEL: Yeah. Talent. The work ethic and the personalities. It's like those three combinations is why I thought that, yeah.

Q. Kyle, I know you're completely focused on today's game, but when you think back to where you guys were at the start of last year and what's awaiting you Wednesday with the fan support, what goes through your mind with bringing the playoffs back to Rate Field?

KYLE TEEL: Yeah, it's just like shout out to all the fans that stuck with us, rolled with us, stuck with us through the struggles. And now we're doing big things, and just to have the opportunity to play in front of them and showcase what we're about and play to win a ball game is just really special.

Q. Kyle, how is your pregame prep or routine different before a bullpen game versus maybe a traditional start?

KYLE TEEL: It's pretty much the same. The thing that changes, I'm not catching in the bullpen. I'm not warming up the pitcher when it's a bullpen game because they're coming straight into the game, especially when we're on the road.

If we're at home, it's kind of identical because I'll warm them up and bring them in. On the road, that's the only little difference.

Q. You guys have faced Gavin Williams pretty much. What makes him so tough to hit?

KYLE TEEL: You know, he attacks the zone and he knows what he wants to do when he's on the mound. At the same time it's like we know what we want to do to attack him. So, yeah, it's just sticking to our plan, sticking to our approach.

Q. Kyle, the coaches and Will love having you in the lineup. What do you think it is -- what would you say you bring to the lineup that makes them want to have you in it?

KYLE TEEL: Yeah. You know, I just think I bring energy every day. I do a good job with the pitching staff and from a batting perspective, I'm a good hitter.

Q. Anthony Kay has kind of taken on a different role this post season. What difference have you noticed with his overall attack and approach on the mound?

KYLE TEEL: Yeah. I mean, he just wants the ball. You can see it every time he's on the bump. He wants the ball, and he's really aggressive.

I think the other day he had second and third -- or first and second and we walked the first guy, but it's like it didn't matter because there's an open base, we're not giving in. So it's just like little things like that, like he's just fearless up there.

Q. Kyle, how would you kind of contrast and compare Sam Antonacci on the field versus Sam Antonacci's the personality that you see every day in the clubhouse?

KYLE TEEL: Yeah. I would say like even like pregame today, he's really chill. You know, he kind of -- he faded the back of my hair today. Like he's just like hanging out with everyone, and I see a hand raised already.

Yeah, he's just chill off the field. And then when the game starts, you know, at times in the dugout, he's really chill. But I don't know what happens when he puts his helmet on because he starts hitting himself. (Laughter). And, yeah, he just wants to run through a brick wall.

So I don't know if it's magic in the helmet or what or the hat, but he's just an animal on the field.

Q. Did he do a good job on the fade?

KYLE TEEL: Yeah. I shouldn't have said fade. He just like trimmed it up a little bit with the razor.

Q. Sorry to interrupt the flow. Was that his idea? Was that your idea?

KYLE TEEL: He really wanted to get my rat tail, but I was like no, bro. That's like my specialty.

Q. What's the deal with the ice cream cone?

KYLE TEEL: Okay. I've noticed this in my baseball career, ice cream cones are good luck. Like, I'm telling you. Like there's hits in ice cream cones.

Q. Do they have an ice cream machine back there or where are we getting these ice cream from?

KYLE TEEL: No. There's a little ice cream fridge, and they got all the ice creams you can think of.

Q. So it's like the drumstick? Is he going to have one today?

KYLE TEEL: I imagine so. I hope he has a few.

Q. Like Shomon was saying with the injuries you've dealt with, like it was a little bit like spring training in terms of getting your timing. As you said, you're a good hitter and it's been showing.

Is there a point in the season where you started to feel like kind of in regular season rhythm and no longer like you were finding your timing?

KYLE TEEL: Yes. At the same time, it's like I still only had like 100 -- in the regular season, I only had like 120 or so at-bats. Like but, yeah, I mean, I felt that way multiple times and then like you get the break.

I just felt like it was back and forth a lot. It is nice, though, like especially like now. Like I've gotten consistent at-bats for a while. It's a good feeling, especially in a big time of the year like this, like, to be able to go out and be like, yeah, this is the most at-bats I've gotten in a row. Like I'm prepared. It's a good feeling.

Q. To have Sean Burke out of the bullpen at some point today, to know how dangerous he is as a starter to have him coming into that role, what does that do for your guys' invigoration of confidence?

KYLE TEEL: Yeah. I mean, he's just a dog. Another guy that wants the ball, wants to attack his plan. And, you know, I feel like as the game goes on, he gets better and better. Like whereas pitchers usually start off hot and then they start to go down a little bit as the game goes down. He's the opposite. So he's a good guy that we want on the mound.