Charlie Tilson, the AAA outfielder acquired Sunday in the trade for left-hander Zach Duke, will join the White Sox when they open a three-game series in Detroit Tuesday, general manager Rick Hahn said.
J.B. Shuck, like Tilson a left-handed hitting outfielder, has started most games in center field since Austin Jackson injured his knee. Shuck was optioned to AAA Charlotte Monday to make room on the 25-man roster.
Tilson, Hahn said, is a “high character kid with 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 but it will come down to how that bat progresses.”
There’s a good chance Tilson will start in center field.
“In time we feel he could play an important role on a very good team,” Hahn said. “The extent of that role, we’ll figure out together in the coming months as he gets an opportunity.
“He has the ability to play all three [outfield positions]. He’ll probably get most of his time in center, though.”
Tilson, 23, hit .282 with 16 doubles, eight triples, four home runs and 34 RBI with a .345 on-base percentage over 100 games at AAA Memphis this season. He also stole 15 bases, and his eight triples are tied for the third-most in the Pacific Coast League.
The Cardinals drafted Tilson in the second round out of New Trier High School in 2011.
Shuck, 29, was batting .218 with three home runs and 13 RBI in 53 games. He has started 44 of the last 54 games since being recalled from Charlotte on May 30, including 31 of the last 33.
