By Sean Duncan

Sure, Charlie Tilson had been stamped as a premier prospect in Illinois since his sophomore year at New Trier High School. But on the national circuit, Tilson was, well, a nobody.

?After the first game [at the Area Code Games], I got a lot of ?Who is this guy??? Tilson said. ?I kind of liked it.?

 

By the end of the prestigious Area Code Games in early August, however, not only did every scout, agent and coach know Tilson?s name, they were now mentioning it among the best 2011 draft-eligible outfield prospects in the country.  Suddenly, the kid who wasn?t on any of the national scouting rankings was being projected as a top-round draft pick.

 

Playing against the best players in the country in Long Beach, Calif., the 6-foot, 175-pound left-handed hitting Tilson put all his athletic gifts on full display. Among his many feats at the Area Code Games, Tilson stole an event-high seven bases, including three in one game, tallied four runs (tied for second) and three RBI.

But what made every scout perk up and take notice was when he led off a game by turning on a 90-mph fastball for a home run with wood ? the only round-tripper of the entire five-day event.  The next at-bat he laced a single on another 90-plus fastball, and then later threw out a runner from centerfield.

 

?To be honest, I thought I?d be the last guy to hit a home run there,? said Tilson. ?There was a lefty throwing in the low-90s; it was a fastball on the inner-half and I just got my hands extended. I was pretty excited about it.

?The whole experience definitely took me a little by surprise. I thought I?d be one of the better athletes out there. What was good about it was I was seeing a lot of fastballs. I got on base some early, got some confidence, and was able to show off some tools.?

New Trier coach Mike Napoleon said he wasn?t surprised by what Tilson accomplished at the Area Code Games. After all, Napoleon has been trumpeting Tilson?s abilities since his sophomore year, when he hit in the three-hole for the 2009 Class 4A state-championship squad. That year, not only did Tilson play an exemplary outfield, he led a balanced senior-laden Trevian squad in hitting for most of the season, and finished with .409 batting average and 26 stolen bases.

?It was a matter of being in the right place at the right time,? Napoleon said. ?Charlie has a knack for doing it. Charlie always seems to have the knack of doing it when it matters. He?s a clutch player. He thrives in big situations. Things are just slower for him. He just stays loose and comfortable in those situations.?

Despite his talents, Tilson had flown somewhat under the radar. Early in his high school career, he kept a lower-profile, choosing not to play in some high-exposure events. The summer going into his junior year, however, he earned top honors at the Prep Baseball Report?s Top Prospect Showcase in June, and by the fall he gave an early commitment to the University of Illinois. In February, Tilson continued to establish himself as the top position player in Illinois with a sterling showing at the Super 60 Pro Showcase.

?I?ve taken a lot of heat for not going to a lot of tournaments in the summer,? said Tilson, who batted .449 with 11 doubles, two triples, one homer, and 27 stolen bases last spring. ?I?ve always taken it one step at a time. I knew if I picked a few big events, like the Super 60 and the Area Code tryouts, and I played my game, I?d be OK. It paid off I guess.?

Tilson does everything on the field well. He is as close to a five-tool player as there is in the state (despite his showing at the Area Code Games, he?s not known for his power). His true separator, and what has elevated him into a potential top-round draft, is his natural athleticism. Also a standout on the football field before an injury to his non-throwing shoulder cut his senior season short, he scored the fourth-highest SPARQ test at the Area Code Games.

?I think speed is my best tool,? said Tilson, who ran a 6.54 60. ?My game is to be scrappy and get on base and create a stir. I figure if I get on base, I can always cause some trouble on the bases. ? I haven?t done much in speed training. We do a little bit in football. Football has helped a lot. It keeps me strong and keeps me competitive, most importantly. It keeps me from getting soft.?

Napoleon said Tilson?s speed and athleticism shine in all facets of the game. ?He?s got that knack of just getting jumps on balls hit to the gap, jumps from first to third, from second to home. He?s got it. He?s got that ?it? factor. He carries himself well. He?s mature. He?s able to withstand pressures and big moments. His ability is endless because he?s so athletic.?