The Chicago White Sox optioned Edgar Quero to Triple-A Charlotte in June when fellow catcher Kyle Teel returned from the injured list.
When Teel went back to the IL on Tuesday, that gave Quero another chance with the big-league club.
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“It’s an opportunity for me, especially because I started the season pretty bad,” Quero said Wednesday in Arlington, Texas. “I have the chance right now to turn the page and do my stuff and get ready and help the team.”
Quero joins Drew Romo as catching options with Teel recovering from a left ankle sprain that could keep him sidelined for six to 12 weeks.
“Having good at-bats offensively, obviously, is something we’re looking for,” manager Will Venable said Wednesday. “And really just going out there and catching well, and helping these pitchers through these games and finding us ways to win the game. That’s what we expect.
“And he went down there to Triple A, did a great job. Some of the things that we asked him to do, he did a really good job of committing to. I want that to continue here, and he’s going to have a job to do — go out there and perform.”
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Quero, 23, slashed .187/.253/.233 (28-for-150) with one double, two home runs, 15 RBIs and 12 runs in 55 games before being sent to Charlotte on June 22. He had his moments — he hit a walk-off two-run home run against the Cubs on May 17 — but never found consistency earlier this season.
That sluggish start serves as a form of motivation in his return.
“Especially right now, I’m feeling pretty good,” Quero said. “I did everything I could in Triple A to fix my swing and fix everything. I feel ready to go right now.”
He slashed .230/.299/.295 (14-for-61) with one double, one home run, six RBIs and five runs in 15 games with the Knights. Tweaks at the plate were part of his approach with Charlotte.
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“I felt good over there, being there for a month,” Quero said. “Working on my stuff and coming back right now. Especially on my swing. Doing my routine for the pregame stuff, working on my receiving, working everything and feel pretty good.”
Quero went 0-for-3 with a walk in Wednesday’s 4-2 win against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field.
Venable said Wednesday that the Sox will take it “day by day” when deciding whether to start Quero or Romo, who entered Friday slashing .130/.217/.304 with five doubles, five home runs and 11 RBIs in 38 games.
Venable added Friday: “We’ll look at a bunch of different stuff. It’s what they’re doing behind the scenes in their preparation. How they line up with that pitcher is maybe not at the top of the list but something that you consider — where these guys are at and what they can do to help a certain pitcher on that day navigate a lineup.
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“Obviously offensively and matchup-wise, that’s something we look at. There’s a bunch of different inputs, how much they’ve been used over the last couple of days and where they’re at with their workload.”
Romo got the start Friday in the series opener against the Houston Astros at Rate Field. It remains to be seen if the Sox will make any additional moves behind the plate as the Aug. 3 trade deadline approaches.
“Getzy’s (general manager Chris Getz) job is to always look at how we can improve our team, and my job, our job here is to give these guys everything they need to be at their best and support them and try and get them better and try and win some games,” Venable said Tuesday. “So that’s what we’ll do, and I know Getzy will be doing whatever he can, not just specific to the catcher position. It’s a round-the-year job to look to how to improve our roster.”
Back in the big leagues, Quero is looking to do his part.
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“I feel sorry for Kyle,” Quero said. “It’s been a pretty hard year for him, coming from injuries three times. But at the same time, it’s baseball and that can happen in the game.
“It feels good to be back with the team, with the boys, trying to help the team with whatever they need. I’ll be ready.”
