1-14: C
Kyle Teel, Virginia {
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Slot value: $4.66 million. Signing bonus: $4 million ($663,100 below slot value).
My rank: #8. MLB Pipeline: #7. Baseball America: #10. Prospects Live: #6.
Taking draft position and signing bonus into account, this may be one of the best picks of the entire first round. Kyle Teel was a virtual consensus top ten prospect in this draft, but lasted until the Red Sox at pick #14. Not only that, but they got him for a large under slot signing bonus, signing him for less than the slot value of the #18 pick and saving more than $650,000 against their bonus pool. Teel is a big time addition to the Red Sox' system, with many scouts pointing to the notion that he may have the quickest path to becoming one of the best at his position in the majors of any player in this draft. He was a potential top 100 pick as a high school senior in 2020, but pulled his name from the draft and made it to campus at Virginia, where he immediately established himself as one of the best catchers in the ACC. However, he took a step back in 2022 and hit "just" .276/.402/.439 on the season before really struggling over the summer both with the US Collegiate National Team and on the Cape (.146/.271/.195 combined in 14 games). Eager to re-establish himself as a blue chip prospect in 2023, he did so and then some with a massive junior campaign in which he slashed .407/.475/.655 with 13 home runs and a 36/32 strikeout to walk ratio over 65 games. Previously employing a rigid, noisy setup, he cleaned that up in 2023 and it paid major dividends. His setup is still rhythm-based, with reduce stabbing action in his load before exploding onto the ball with average power. Teel employs a professional approach at the plate, working counts well and making plenty of contact (you don't hit .400 if you don't), so the hit tool is comfortably above average. Together, that could mean 15-20 home runs per season with high on-base percentages, with something of a Joe Mauer offensive ceiling (maybe sans that outlier 2009 MVP season). The North Jersey native is also a much better athlete than most at his position, with the ability to play the infield or outfield if needed. His athleticism helps him behind the plate as well, where he's a solid blocker and receiver with a plus arm, so he'll stick back there and the extra positions will help his profile more in the form of versatility than a backup option. Teel has continued his hot hitting ways so far in pro ball, slashing .435/.534/.565 with one home run and a 7/10 strikeout to walk ratio over 13 games between the Florida Complex League and High A Greenville.
