Boston Red Sox Select University of Virginia Catcher With First Round Selection

Picking No. 14 in the MLB Draft on Sunday, the Boston Red Sox selected University of Virginia catcher Kyle Teel.

Teel will look to become part of a much-improved Red Sox farm system that includes Marcelo Mayer, Nick Yorke, Ceddanne Rafaela and more. 

Here's a portion of Teel's draft profile from MLB.com, where he was ranked the No. 7 draft prospect:

He’s been a full-time starter since he arrived in Charlottesville, putting up better numbers as a freshman than he did as a sophomore and is generally considered to be the top college backstop in the class of 2023.

A left-handed-hitting backstop, Teel has the chance to hit for average and power, though he’s gotten caught a bit in between trying to be a hitter with some pop or a power guy. He was more hit over power in high school, but he has been trying to show off the pop more, perhaps a reason why he hit just .276 in 2022, though he’s found the right balance this spring. He does have an advanced approach, walking more than he struck out last year, and while struggles in the Cape Cod League and with Team USA last summer led some to worry about the hit tool, he’s answered them during his junior year.

Extremely athletic, Teel has seen time in the outfield and probably could handle playing second or third, but he has every chance to stick behind the plate...

The Red Sox value versatility under Chaim Bloom and Alex Cora, so having a player that could play multiple positions is certainly something the organization covets.

Teel is a junior, so he could technically threaten to go back to school. It's certainly unlikely but it could help him at the negotiating table. 

He hit .407 this season with a .475 on-base percentage and helped lead the Cavaliers to the College World Series. He had 13 homers and 69 RBI.