With Sox's Tilson injured again, who will start in center field?
What started out as a pleasant dream for Charlie Tilson has rapidly evolved into a nightmare.
Growing up a Chicago White Sox fan in north suburban Wilmette, Tilson was thrilled after being acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals for veteran relief pitcher Zach Duke in a July 31 trade.
"I grew up a huge fan," Tilson said. "To be in this locker room with such a great group of guys, it's going to be so exciting and just a ton of fun."
That was Tilson talking very early in spring training. A few days later, he was talking about his latest injury - a stress reaction in his right foot.
"I guess you could say I'm disappointed, but it's a very minor setback and it's part of the process," Tilson said. "I had a major repair and these things come up. Hopefully, we can minimize them as much as we can and hopefully this is the last one. But I'm just going to deal with it and do whatever I can to move forward."
The White Sox's 24-year-old center fielder still is dealing with the foot injury, and he is back in a walking boot and shut down for at least three more weeks.
That means Tilson is going to be on the disabled list when the Sox open the regular season at home against the Detroit Tigers on April 5.
Joining the White Sox on Aug. 2 last season after the trade, Tilson singled in his first at-bat at Detroit and later tore his left hamstring diving for a Miguel Cabrera line drive.
While recovering from season-ending surgery, Tilson likely put too much pressure on his right leg and wound up with the stress reaction in his foot.
Until Tilson is ready to get back on the field, look for Peter Bourjos to take over in center field.
A seven-year veteran, Bourjos spent last season with the Philadelphia Phillies and posted a .251/.292/.389 hitting line with 20 doubles, 7 triples, 5 home runs, 23 RBI and 6 stolen bases in 123 games.
Bourjos signed a minor-league contract with the Sox on Jan. 27.
"Just looked like a good opportunity to get at-bats and make the team out of spring," he said. "Hopefully, if I go out and play well that'll happen."
In his first 10 Cactus League games this spring, Bourjos was batting .364 and tied for the White Sox lead with 6 runs scored.
Jacob May and Adam Engel, two of the Sox's better homegrown prospects, are competing with Bourjos for playing time in center.
May was batting .385 through 12 exhibition games, Engel .130 in 13 games.