GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Charlie Tilson has been scouring for a different path from the frustrating journey he's been on since making his big league debut with the White Sox last August.
On Tuesday morning, the White Sox center fielder resigned himself to the fact it won't happen at the beginning of the 2017 season.
Tilson suffered a stress reaction in his right foot earlier this spring, and he learned Monday that he'll need to wear a boot for at least three weeks. An MRI confirmed there was no fracture, but the amount of inflammation led to the team deciding to shut him down for the remainder of Spring Training.
That means Tilson, the club's No. 12 prospect per MLBPipeline.com, will open the season on the disabled list, where he's been since his first Major League game on Aug. 2, 2016, just days after a deal with the Cardinals at the non-waiver Trade Deadline.

"It's killing me," Tilson said Tuesday, discussing his frustration as he stowed a pair of crutches in his locker. "It's disappointing, for sure, but it's the hand I'm dealt. I tried to push and get back. I want to help out this team as much as I can. It's just an unfortunate reality I have to face. It's going to take time. I can't dwell on it. I'm just going to deal with it, and I'm going to do everything I can to get back on the field."
Tilson's original injury was to his left hamstring, suffered in Detroit while chasing down a fly ball in his debut. He had season-ending surgery two days later.
Tilson believes that while rehabbing to strengthen his left leg, he put too much pressure on his right leg, leading to the stress reaction in his right foot. He never got in a Cactus League game this spring, hoping a slow progression in camp would help him get back in action in time for the regular season.

"I thought that the time off would help my leg to recover, and hopefully give it some life as I started to run again," Tilson said. "We did everything we can to help that. It's just one of those things. You've got to look at yourself in the mirror and you've got to be honest with yourself. I need to get myself right."
Tilson is determined to keep working during the last three weeks of camp.
"I've got a plan as far as how I can continue to strengthen my left leg, so I can get back to balance and prevent something like this in the future," Tilson said. "It's going to be a lot of work, and obviously it's not the work you want to be doing. I want to be out on the field; I want to be helping this team win. All I can do is move forward."