About Charlie Tilson
Thanks for visiting my site. I appreciate your interest in learning more.
Baseball has had a huge impact on my life and has taught me a lot more than just the game! I’ve met some amazing people, faced plenty of challenges, and learned a lot along the way. It has all helped shape who I am today, and I’m excited to share my baseball lessons with you.
My baseball journey began in 1998 with one image that I will never forget. While I don’t recall the exact moment I first saw Ken Griffey Jr., that image has been etched into my mind every time I step onto the field.
Ken Griffey Jr. had FUN! He was called the “The Kid” for many reasons. He entered the league at 19 and played alongside his father, but I believe the real reason that nickname stuck is that he played the game with the passion and heart of a kid.
As a coach, I encourage my players to reflect on the sources of inspiration that motivate them and to keep those images close. Staying inspired is essential to our success as athletes.
Learning The Game
By 2005, I had shifted my focus to the Chicago White Sox. Ozzie Guillen’s White Sox had taken the league by storm playing “grinder ball.” It was about doing your job, so the next guy could do his. It was fundamental, team-first baseball.
The player who really captured my attention was Scott Podsednik. He’d get on base, steal second, steal third, and before you knew it, it was 1–0. As a 12-year-old with speed, I knew right then that I wanted to learn how to use my speed like Scotty Pods.
Preparation Meets Opportunity
When I was 13 and 14, I had the opportunity to travel to Florida to play in national tournaments with Dante Bichette and his sons, Dante Jr. and Bo, now an all-star short stop with the Toronto Blue Jays. I learned invaluable lessons from them about hard work and dedication that helped me grow both as a player and as a person.
Before my senior year of high school, Dan Durst, a White Sox scout, invited me to play for the Chicago White Sox Area Codes team in the premier annual showcase for high school juniors. We flew out to California together, and Durst gave me some priceless advice: my hard work had led to this opportunity, and now I needed to show the scouts everything I had.
The next day, I got a base hit, stole second on the first pitch, and stole third on the second pitch—just like Scotty Pods. That moment helped secure my opportunity to be drafted out of high school to play pro ball, but I knew the real work was just beginning.
The Road to Professional Baseball
In 2011, the St. Louis Cardinals drafted me in the second round. But transitioning into professional baseball wasn’t without challenges. The pitchers were smarter and more talented, the catchers were quicker, and the game itself was just faster. I held my own but I was hardly running.
That changed when my agent arranged a meeting with Juan Pierre in the spring of 2015 in Jupiter, Florida. Juan shared his daily work habits and gave me some great tips on how to improve my base-stealing game. But the most valuable piece of advice he gave me was that if I wanted to become a true threat on the bases, I had to work on the fundamentals of it every single day.
The next year, I put that advice into action and led the Texas League with 46 stolen bases. I dragged our closer out every day and challenged him to try to pick me off, always having the conviction that I was going to be safe because I had prepared.
That experience reinforced my formula for success: Process > Expectations.
The Call
Every major-leaguer recalls this moment. I had been daydreaming about the call all year. After leading the Texas League in stolen bases and playing in the Arizona Fall League, I was added to the 40-man roster during the off season and my ultimate goal was now within reach; I was 23 years old and just a phone call away.
I got the call.
I was traded to the White Sox for relief pitcher Zach Duke, and was told I’d join the major league team in Detroit and start in centerfield.
This was unbelievable! I had learned the game watching the White Sox, now I was on the team.
August 2nd, 2016 – My Debut!
My major league debut felt surreal. I’ll never forget sitting down at my locker, walking out to the field, taking batting practice, and then how I felt stepping up to the plate.
I then got a hit in my first at-bat; it was incredible.
Unfortunately, all the excitement came to a screeching halt. While tracking down a fly ball in the 6th inning, I ruptured my hamstring.
Overcoming Adversity
The doctor told me that a full recovery from a complete hamstring rupture was unlikely and would require an extraordinary effort, which at that time, I thought I understood. But It required far more than I had imagined.
I assembled my own team of trainers and physical therapists to support me. For the first time in my career, I fully committed myself to a scientifically-based approach to my training.
My team included Megan Dunne, a yoga and breath instructor; Alex Cotie, a nutritionist; Josh Akin, a chiropractor; and Bobby DeThomasis, a strength and conditioning coach and athletic trainer.
Along the way I learned an invaluable lesson: strength is built daily, and it involves every aspect of our life: how we sleep, what we eat, and how we train.
Slowly but surely, I made a complete recovery against all odds.
After just over a year, I was finally back on the field for my second stint in the Arizona Fall League, but it was a rough start; despite my excitement to be back on the field, I began the fall campaign in an 0-14 slump.
However, I went back to the drawing board and retooled my hitting preparation process with the help of Frank Menechino, my all-time favorite hitting coach; and by the next spring, I had found my swing again.
I ended up playing two more seasons in the big leagues with the White Sox–eventually wearing number 22, the same number as Scott Podsednik, my childhood inspiration.
I learned that like everywhere else I had played, in the big leagues you need to believe in yourself, and that requires preparing every single day to execute the fundamentals.
And above all, be a great teammate and have fun.
Post White Sox
After my stint with the White Sox. I went to Spring Training with the Pirates before being released during the Covid-19 shutdown.
I spent a year as an assistant coach at Northwestern, alongside Dusty Napoleon and Spencer Allen.
After one season coaching at Northwestern, I had an itch to get back on the field. I first signed to play in Mexico with the Asceros de Monclova in the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol, where I was teammates with baseball legend, Bartolo Colon.
I was eventually signed that summer by the Phillies organization and finished the 2021 season with their triple A team, the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs.
I spent my final season in the American Association where I played with the Chicago Dogs in 2022 and had the pleasure of playing for former Alabama National Champion QB, and major-leaguer, Butch Hobson.
The path to the major leagues was thrilling but also stressful and challenging. At times, the pressure to perform outweighed the fun. But in the end, I realized that the real joy lies in the process—the passion and hard work that builds the foundation for success.
Every day at the field, I knew one of two things would happen: I would win, or I would learn. Either way, it was a win in my book.
I hope that by sharing my baseball journey, you’ve taken something of value with you.
Now, let’s start working on your journey today!
Charlie’s Awards
Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year
2011
Awarded for athletic achievement, academic excellence, and exemplary character
Best Defensive Outfielder
2012
St. Louis Cardinals Organization
Awarded by Baseball America
Fastest Baserunner
2013
St. Louis Cardinals Organization
Awarded by Baseball America
FSL Mid-Season All-Star
2014
Team: Palm Beach Cardinals (FSL)
FSL Post-Season All-Star
2014
Team: Palm Beach Cardinals (FSL)
TEX Mid-Season All-Star
2015
Team: Springfield Cardinals (TEX)
TEX Post-Season All-Star
2015
Team: Springfield Cardinals (TEX)
Meet the Team
All of our in-person sessions are led by Charlie’s team of experienced instructors who’ve been working together for years as both players and coaches. We love the game and have a blast sharing that passion with our players. With backgrounds in collegiate and professional baseball, we offer expert guidance built on a shared philosophy. Our goal is to help young players develop a comfortable and balanced swing by emphasizing the fundamentals that make it all click.
Anthony Calarco
Anthony holds the single season home run record at New Trier High School. He played collegiately at Northwestern where he was a First Team Big Ten Performer, then transferred to Ole Miss where he started at first base for the Rebels and subsequently was signed by the Texas Rangers. He currently plays for the Schaumburg Boomers.
John Calarco
John is a member of the St. Pats Hall of Fame and played professional baseball in the Pioneer league for the Salt Lake City Trappers. He is a tremendous coach for players of all ages. The proud father of local legends Anthony and Alex Calarco (Starting Catcher at University of Maryland), John has spent a lifetime in baseball as player, parent, and coach.
