News - White Sox Separate from Catcher Eric Haase

The Chicago White Sox have announced the release of catcher Eric Haase from his minor league contract, according to Brooke Fletcher of the Chicago Sports Network. This decision comes shortly after Haase's recent addition to the team, having joined the White Sox only a few weeks ago. During his brief tenure with Triple-A Charlotte, Haase made an impressive impact, recording 9 hits in 25 at-bats across seven games. His offensive performance included a pair of doubles, a home run, and a balanced tally of five walks against five strikeouts. This strong showing in the minors was likely a key factor in his release, granting him the chance to pursue opportunities with other teams. Haase joined the White Sox following his release from the San Francisco Giants. Prior to his stint in Chicago, the 33-year-old catcher had been a part of the Giants' MLB roster for three months, having been signed on a minor league deal during the offseason. Although he didn't make the Opening Day roster, injuries within the Giants' catching core led to his promotion by mid-April. In San Francisco, Haase assumed a depth role, appearing in 29 games and accumulating 84 plate appearances. His overall performance included a batting average of .162, an on-base percentage of .235, and a slugging percentage of .365, with four home runs as part of his contribution. These stats reflect his characteristic profile: a power hitter with notable strikeout tendencies, resulting in a long-term slash line of .224/.276/.394. While he possesses commendable arm strength, his receiving skills behind the plate are considered to lack refinement. Amid injuries, the White Sox chose not to promote Haase to the majors, instead maintaining their commitment to the young catching duo of Drew Romo and Edgar Quero. Both Joey Bart and Kyle Teel are sidelined with injuries, leaving Romo and Quero as the only healthy catchers on the team's 40-man roster. Korey Lee now steps into the primary backup role given his MLB experience. Meanwhile, Teel is making recovery strides from a left ankle sprain and is tentatively expected to return to action in September, as confirmed by his statements to Scott Merkin of MLB.com.