Charlie Tilson

Charles Everett Tilson (born December 2, 1992) is an American professional baseball center fielder who is currently a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago White Sox. Coming up in the St. Louis Cardinals organization, Tilson was rated as the Best Defensive Outfielder in 2012 and Fastest Baserunner in 2013 of the organization by Baseball America,[1] while also ranking as high as ninth best prospect in the organization, in 2014.[2]

Charlie Tilson
Free agent
Center fielder
Born: (1992-12-02) December 2, 1992
Wilmette, Illinois
Bats: Left Throws: Left
MLB debut
August 2, 2016, for the Chicago White Sox
MLB statistics
(through 2019 season)
Batting average.246
Home runs1
Runs batted in23
Teams

Playing career

Tilson attended New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois.[3] He played both baseball and football.[4] As a senior, he was the Illinois Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year.[5][6]

St. Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals selected Tilson in the second round of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft.[7][8][9] He signed with the Cardinals rather than play college baseball at the University of Illinois.[10][11] Tilson made his professional debut that season with the Gulf Coast Cardinals and also played for the Johnson City Cardinals. Tilson was supposed to play for the Batavia Muckdogs in 2012, using the time before the season began to develop his power behind the plate while at extended spring training. However, on May 11, Tilson suffered a separated right shoulder while attempting a diving catch, an injury which required season-ending surgery.[12]

Tilson spent most of 2013 with Single-A Peoria, playing in 100 games before receiving a late season promotion to High-A Palm Beach.[13] With the Chiefs, Tilson hit .303/.349/.388 with 4 HR, 30 RBI, 15 SB and 49 runs. Tilson returned to Palm Beach in 2014, where he made the mid-season Florida State League All-Start team after hitting .298 with 17 RBI in the first half.[14] In July, Tilson was promoted to Double-A Springfield, where he finished out the season.[15][16] Tilson was also slated to appear in the Arizona Fall League after the season, but missed out with a stress fracture in his foot.[17] In 120 games between the two teams, Tilson hit .289/.333/.389 with 7 HR, 53 RBI, and 73 runs. He stole 12 bases, but was caught stealing 10 times as well.

Tilson started the 2015 season with the Springfield Cardinals of the Texas League. He was a mid-season All-Star selection with a .288 average, seven doubles, four triples with 11 RBI and 36 run scored.[18] In 134 games with Springfield, Tilson hit .295/.351/.388 with 4 HR, 32 RBI, and 85 runs, but vastly improved his stolen base numbers, stealing a Texas League high 46 bases while being caught 19 times. After the season, Tilson got a chance to play in the Arizona Fall League with Surprise, while also being added to the Cardinals 40-man roster, thereby protecting him from the Rule V Draft.[19] Tilson began 2016 with Triple-A Memphis, where in 100 games, he hit .282/.345/.407 with 4 HR, 34 RBI, 53 runs, and 15 stolen bases to just 3 times being caught. Tilson made 55 starts in center field, as well as 72 starts in the leadoff position.[20]

Chicago White Sox

On July 31, 2016, the Cardinals traded Tilson to the Chicago White Sox, the team he grew up rooting for, for relief pitcher Zach Duke.[21] Tilson was recalled to the major league roster, taking the place of incumbent center fielder J. B. Shuck, and was expected to immediately contribute as a regular outfielder.[22]

[He's a] high character kid, plus speed, solid defense, very good bat-to-ball skills. We think he has a chance to potentially be an everyday guy out there in center.

Rick Hahn, White Sox general manager

He made his debut against the Detroit Tigers on August 2, and got his first major league hit, a single, in his first at bat, against Aníbal Sánchez.[23] Unfortunately, Tilson strained his left hamstring during the game attempting to make a diving catch, and was placed on the disabled list, curiously becoming the fourth White Sox member in 2016 to become injured on or before their debut.[24] On August 4, Tilson underwent season-ending surgery.[25]

Following the offseason trade of Adam Eaton, Tilson was among the favorites to land the center field job out of spring training in 2017, receiving the endorsement of general manager Rick Hahn.[26] However, Tilson suffered a stress reaction in the same foot he previously had a stress fracture[27][28] and missed all of the 2017 season.

Fully healthy, Tilson began 2018 with the Charlotte Knights. He was recalled by the White Sox on May 24. The White Sox designated Tilson for assignment after the 2018 season.[29] Tilson was outrighted on January 17, 2019. Tilson was playing again for the White Sox in May, 2019. On May 22, Tilson hit a grand slam for his first major league home run off of Astros reliever Josh James. On October 3, 2019, Tilson was outrighted to AAA and chose to become a free agent.[30]

Pittsburgh Pirates

On January 31, 2020, Tilson signed a minor league deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Tilson was released by the Pirates organization on June 9, 2020.

Coaching career

Tilson was hired as a volunteer assistant at Northwestern University's baseball program in late 2020.[31]

References
  1. "White Sox acquire outfielder Charlie Tilson from St. Louis for LHP Zach Duke". Chicago White Sox. July 31, 2016.
  2. Baseball America
  3. Powers, Scott (June 4, 2011). "New Trier's Tilson ponders future". ESPN.com Chicago. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  4. Booher, Kary (July 23, 2014). "Grew up near Wrigley Field, now he's with the Springfield Cardinals". Springfield News-Leader. Archived from the original on October 23, 2014. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  5. Harness, Matt (June 7, 2011). "Cardinals draft New Trier CF Charlie Tilson with 79th pick". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on October 23, 2014. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  6. Huth, Jeff (June 7, 2011). "Tilson picked in second round". The News-Gazette. Champaign–Urbana. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  7. Laymance, Austin (June 8, 2011). "Cards tab pair of prep outfielders on Day 2". MLB.com. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  8. Helfgot, Mike (June 7, 2011). "MLB draft: New Trier's Tilson taken 79th by Cardinals". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  9. "Major Leagues or business major?". espnW. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  10. "Cards sign second-round Draft pick Tilson". St. Louis Cardinals. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  11. "Charlie Tilson picks Cards over Illinois". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  12. Lee Enterprises. "Prospect Tilson headed for shoulder surgery". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  13. Baliva, Nathan (February 19, 2014). "Catching Up With Charlie Tilson". Peoria Chiefs.
  14. Newton, Brian (June 15, 2014). "Charlie Tilson paving the way for Palm Beach in the first half". MiLB.com.
  15. "FSL notes: Tilson ready to play spoiler role". MiLB.com. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  16. Kary Booher, News-Leader (August 23, 2014). "Tilson crafts his game in Double-A". Springfield News-Leader. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  17. Memphis Redbirds (September 24, 2014). "Cardinals Playing In Arizona Fall League". MiLB.com.
  18. Springfield Cardinals (June 15, 2015). "Seven Cardinals named to Texas League All-Star Game". Minor League Baseball (milb.com). Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  19. Cards add Diaz, Kiekhefer, Tilson to roster
  20. Tyson, Blake (July 31, 2016). "A look at new White Sox prospect Charlie Tilson". WGN.
  21. Langosch, Jennifer (July 30, 2016). "Cardinals get lefty Duke in deal for OF Tilson". MLB.com. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
  22. Hayes, Dan (August 1, 2016). "WHITE SOX TO PROMOTE OUTFIELD PROSPECT CHARLIE TILSON". CSN Chicago.
  23. "White Sox OF Tilson strains hammy, goes to DL". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
  24. Kane, Colleen (August 4, 2016). "Rookie Tim Anderson 'dodged big bullet' after being hit by pitch on hand". Chicago Tribune.
  25. Kane, Colleen (August 3, 2016). "White Sox rookie Charlie Tilson faces season-ending hamstring surgery". Chicago Tribune.
  26. Van Schouwen, Daryl (February 14, 2017). "Carlos Rodon taking lighter, slower approach to season". Chicago Sun-Times.
  27. Hayes, Dan (February 19, 2017). "WHITE SOX ROOKIE CHARLIE TILSON OUT AT LEAST 10 DAYS WITH FOOT INJURY". CSN Chicago.
  28. Merkin, Scott (February 19, 2017). "Tilson sidelined with stress reaction in foot". MLB.com.
  29. https://twitter.com/MLBRosterMoves/status/1083439553304821760
  30. Steve Adams (October 4, 2019). "White Sox Outright Charlie Tilson". MLB Trade Rumors.
  31. https://dailynorthwestern.com/2020/10/25/sports/baseball-nu-hires-former-white-sox-player-charlie-tilson-as-assistant-coach/
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