CHICAGO – Four years is a long time to wait for an opportunity.

Since the White Sox acquired him from the Atlanta Braves in 2008, Tyler Flowers has patiently bided his time. He worked through the minors, often stuck in Triple-A Charlotte, and then found himself behind A.J. Pierzynski on the major league depth chart.

There were times Flowers believed he would never get the chance to be the Sox’s starting catcher. Finally, Pierzynski’s offseason departure has provided Flowers an opening he’s been eagerly anticipating.