What happened: The Chicago White Sox have activated catcher Kyle Teel for the first time this season. Teel strained his hamstring during the World Baseball Classic, then sprained the lateral collateral ligament in his knee on a rehab assignment, twin setbacks that kept him sidelined for months.
Why it matters: Teel is one of Chicago's most-touted young catchers, and his return adds depth and offensive upside behind the plate as the White Sox sit near .500 in the standings. Stabilizing the catcher position matters for a club fighting to stay in contention through the summer grind.
By the numbers: Chicago entered the day 39-37 on the season, scoring 4.6 runs per game and allowing 4.7, having dropped three straight (last five LLLWL).
What to watch: Watch how Chicago eases Teel back in — whether he goes straight behind the plate or sees early time at DH before resuming a regular catching workload.