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]
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]
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]