Charles Everett Tilson is an American professional baseballcenter fielder who is currently a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball 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, while also ranking as high as ninth best prospect in the organization, in 2014.
The St. Louis Cardinals selected Tilson in the second round of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft. He signed with the Cardinals rather than play college baseball at the University of Illinois. 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. Tilson spent most of 2013 with Single-A Peoria, playing in 100 games before receiving a late season promotion to High-A Palm Beach. 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. In July, Tilson was promoted to Double-A Springfield, where he finished out the season. Tilson was also slated to appear in the Arizona Fall League after the season, but missed out with a stress fracture in his foot. 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. 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. 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.
On July 31, 2016, the Cardinals traded Tilson to the Chicago White Sox, the team he grew up rooting for, for relief pitcherZach Duke. 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. 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. 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. On August 4, Tilson underwent season-ending surgery. 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. However, Tilson suffered a stress reaction in the same foot he previously had a stress fracture 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. 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.
