DETROIT — White Sox outfielder Charlie Tilson will have surgery Thursday to repair a torn left hamstring and is out for the season. Tilson suffered the injury during his major league debut Tuesday night at Comerica Park.
Tilson was placed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday. The Sox recalled outfielder J.B. Shuck from AAA Charlotte.
“It’s crazy, it’s unfortunate,” manager Robin Ventura said Wednesday. “You feel for the kid that he gets an opportunity to come up here and something like that happens. But they got an MRI tonight, and he flew out this morning. He’ll have surgery tomorrow morning.”
Tilson, 23, was injured during the fifth inning Tuesday while running down a fly ball in right-center field. The Sox traded Zach Duke to the St. Louis Cardinals for Tilson on Sunday and immediately brought him up to the major league team. He started in center field, batted eighth in manager Robin Ventura’s lineup and singled off Anibal Sanchez in his first at-bat. Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera handed him the ball.
Shuck, 29, was optioned to Charlotte on Monday to make room for Tilson. He is batting .218 in 170 at-bats. Ventura indicated Avisail Garcia, who entered the game in right field with Adam Eaton moving to center after Tilson left the game, might get more playing time in the coming weeks. Garcia homered in each of his two at-bats Tuesday.
Tilson is a graduate of New Trier High School. His parents, four siblings and a group of friends made the trip to Detroit to see him play in his first major league game. He is the fourth Sox to be injured during or before making his major league debut this season, joining catcher Kevan Smith, outfielder Jason Coats and third baseman Matt Davidson.
Here is Tilson talking before his debut Tuesday:
