This story was excerpted from Scott Merkin’s White Sox Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

CHICAGO -- The phrase “White Sox catcher of the future” has been attached to Edgar Quero since shortly after he arrived from the Angels via the Lucas Giolito/Reynaldo López trade on July 26, 2023.

That’s a commonly heard or written reference, especially for a team undergoing a rebound. And at 21, Quero (the White Sox No. 6 prospect and No. 59 overall prospect, per MLB Pipeline) has lived up to this description.

With the trade of Garrett Crochet at the recent Winter Meetings in Dallas and the acquisition of 22-year-old catcher Kyle Teel (White Sox No. 2 prospect, No. 25 overall) as part of the four-player return from Boston, Quero has some company in that present and future post behind the plate. The switch-hitter is excited with the new addition, as opposed to being bothered by the competition.

“I just feel very happy, because I mean that’s more good players for the organization,” Quero said earlier this week. “I feel like everybody together, we can do a really good job.

“It’s part of the baseball is a business and I understand that. I feel happy for [general manager] Chris Getz and the staff and the White Sox because they made a really good move. That’s going to help the organization in the future and especially right now, because we are going to compete at every level because we have so many good prospects.”

• 'Catching is gold' as White Sox bring in Teel

Quero’s offseason work is taking place in Arizona, where he’ll meet up with Korey Lee -- another member of the White Sox catching quartet -- at some point in January to get a true start on 2025 preparation. Quero also feels healthy after battling through back issues at the end of the '24 season.

During this previous campaign, Quero slashed .280/.366/.463 between stops with Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte, knocking out 16 home runs, 16 doubles and driving in 70. Getz spoke of Quero having a chance to break camp with the White Sox, but with Matt Thaiss and Lee in place, there’s no rush or pressure on either Quero or Teel.

Then again, Quero thrives on pressure.

“Yeah, I like the competition, exactly. I like the pressure. I’m the guy for the big moments,” Quero said. “I’ve been there a lot of times in my life. I like that, because that helps me to be a better player, a better person, a better teammate. I just want to be in a good spot with everybody and help everybody.

“I’m just thinking about right now. I just want to be in a good spot after a nice offseason. Prepare myself mentally and physically to get the chance in Spring Training and just show everybody what I can do. They are going to make a decision. But I want to be on the roster for sure. I’m not going to lie.”

Quero posted a 1.025 OPS over 78 at-bats as a right-handed hitter last season, while finishing with a .772 OPS in 272 at-bats as a left-handed hitter. It makes for a good combination at the outset with the left-handed-hitting Teel, although offense is not a primary goal for Quero when asked to judge catching success.

“The catcher has to be a catcher first and hitter after,” Quero said. “My bat is going to be there. I can help the team hitting too. But I want to be a catcher first to help my pitchers and to be with everybody on the same page. I’m going to help them in every situation.”

A basic working relationship already has started between Quero and Teel, with the two following each other on Instagram and Quero sending Teel a welcome to the organization message. That bond will grow during Spring Training for the catchers of the future.

“All my life I was thinking for this moment. Now I’m here,” said the native of Cienfuegos, Cuba. “I just wanted the opportunity to play and show everybody what I can do. It’s really good and I’m really excited for what’s coming.”