White Sox Ship Zach Duke To Cardinals For Their 10th Rated Prospect, Chicagoan Charlie Tilson
START THE FIRESALE!!!!!
This move was a no brainer. The White Sox aren’t contending for the foreseeable future and there’s NO POINT AT ALL in paying a loogy another $7MM or so, though Duke’s role this season evolved to a solid later inning option against both LHH and RHH. Still, clear the books, ship him to a contender and build farm depth.
Now, who did he return? Charlie Tilson
Bio
– Baseball America’s 10th rated prospect in the Cardinals System
– Chicago kid from New Trier HS
– 2nd round pick of the Cards in the 2011 draft
Scouting Report
– MLB 20/80 grades: 55 hit, 30 power, 65 run, 45 arm, 55 field
– above average bat-to-ball skills, only has a career 16% K rate in MiLB
– career .293/.346 slash line in MiLB with a .282/..345 slash line in 2016
– considered the “fastest player in the Cardinals system”
– lead the AA Texas League in hits, stolen bases in 2015
This is all just information gathered from different outlets on the internet. Truth be told, I don’t know all too much about Tilson other than what I have read. I reached out to a few people who scouted Charlie in HS and this is what they had to say about him:
Illinois Prep Baseball Report: “Incredible defensive outfielder. Great speed, great jumps. Really quick hands at the plate, only guy at Area Code Games to hit a home run his senior year. Extremely tough kid.”
White Sox Scout: “Extremely fast, athletic. Really good defender with speed. Should play for Sox now. Line drive hitter. People thought power would come, hasn’t quite yet. Brett Gardner is a good player comp.”
Random guy who played against Tilson: “The kid absolutely flies. Probably top 3 fastest guys I’ve played against. On defense he can really go and get it. He takes away balls that you think are doubles in the gap and makes it look easy. Done it to me twice and in one of the AAA games I saw he made a play similar to the Buxton one last night. Not as far but you get the idea. At the plate he is a very tough out. Pitchers have to work hard against him as he fights off tough pitches and doesn’t K much. Doesn’t have much power but he could be Eaton 2.0 with a bit more speed and a little less power.”
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As I add everything up, it sounds like Charlie has a high floor as a 4th OF and a decently high ceiling as a player who can steal 25+ bases, play an exceptional outfield, and if he clicks, put together consistent .275/.330 or so slash lines. For Zach Duke? I’ll take that all day. The Zach Duke’s of the world are replaceable. This move adds to a minor league system that is starving for players that have good bat-to-ball skills and a refined hitting approach, which Charlie has.
Duke should help solidify a Cardinals pen that has been bad this year. It was a win-win for both teams.
Now all the White Sox have left to do is trade away the rest of the roster and we’ll be all set!
**UPDATE**
Was just told Tilson will be activated by the White Sox tomorrow already. Source: Tilson’s mom