The White Sox outrighted outfielder Charlie Tilson Thursday, trimming their 40-man roster to 39.
With an improving farm system, the Sox have a growing number of prospects worth protecting from other teams. Removing Tilson from the 40-man in advance of the Rule 5 draft in December is one the first steps to create space.
Tilson, who played in 54 games with the Sox in 2019, produced a .229/.293/.285 hitting line with one home run, so the move was not unexpected, although his numbers at Class AAA Charlotte were better: .288/.345/.398 in 257 plate appearances.
Among prospects who would be Rule 5 eligible if not added to the 40-man: Pitchers Zack Burdi, Dane Dunning, Jimmy Lambert and Bernardo Flores and outfielder Blake Rutherford.
A New Trier grad and former second-round draft pick, the Sox viewed Tilson as a potential every day center fielder and leadoff hitter when they acquired him in a 2016 mid-season trade with the Cardinals for left-hander Zach Duke. But Tilson tore his hamstring in his major league debut, missed the rest of the season after undergoing surgery and missed the 2017 season with a foot injury.
Tilson has accepted free agency and will likely look to sign a minor league deal with another team.
