Kevin Pillar, Outfield, Atlanta Braves

Date of Birth: 1/4/1989
Birthplace: West Hills, California
College: California State University, Dominguez Hills

Kevin Pillar, outfielder for the Atlanta Braves, was a top player in high school and college, finishing his college baseball years with a .367 batting average. He was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2011 and he played in their minor league system from 2011 through the beginning of this year. As a minor leaguer, he batted .321 with 451 hits, 101 doubles, 206 RBIs, and 88 stolen bases in 350 games.

In 2013, Pillar played in 36 games with the Blue Jays and he batted .206 with 21 hits. He finished the 2014 season with 31 hits, 28 strikeouts to 4 walks, and a .267 batting average in 53 games. Defensively, he made 71 putouts with no errors in 16 games in center field, 30 games in left field, and 7 games in right field.

Pillar had a strong 2015 season, finishing with a .278 batting average, 163 hits, 31 doubles, 25 stolen bases, and 56 RBIs in 159 games. As the Blue Jays' center fielder, he made 404 putouts and 2 errors in 142 games. In postseason play, he batted .286 with 12 hits, including 5 doubles and a home run, 2 stolen bases, and 6 RBIs in 42 at-bats in 11 games.

Pillar had another good season in 2016, finishing with a .267 batting average in 146 games. He had 146 hits, 35 doubles, 14 stolen bases, and 53 RBIs. Defensively, as the Blue Jays' center fielder in 146 games, he made 337 putouts and 6 errors. In the postseason, he batted just 0.94 with 3 hits and 2 RBIs in 32 at-bats in 9 games.

In 2017, Pillar batted .256 in 154 games with the Blue Jays. He finished the season with 150 hits, career highs in doubles (37) and home runs (16), 42 RBIs, and 95 strikeouts to 33 walks. Defensively, as the Blue Jays' center fielder, he made 316 putouts and 1 error.

Pillar finished the 2018 season with 129 hits, 40 doubles, 15 home runs, 14 stolen bases, 59 RBIs, and a .252 batting average in 142 games. Defensively, as the Blue Jays' center fielder in 142 games, he made 352 putouts and 6 errors.

The Blue Jays traded Pillar to the San Francisco Giants on April 2, 2019. He finished the 2019 season with 158 hits, 37 doubles, 21 home runs, 14 stolen bases, 88 RBIs, 89 strikeouts to 18 walks, and a .259 batting average in 5 games with Toronto and 156 games with the Giants. Defensively, as a center fielder in 133 games, he made 296 putouts and 4 errors.

Pillar became a free agent on December 2, 2019. He signed with the Boston Red Sox on February 14, 2020. He was traded to the Colorado Rockies on August 31st. He finished the season with 28 hits, 5 doubles, 2 home runs, 13 RBIs, and a .308 batting average in 30 games with the Red Sox and 24 games with the Rockies. Defensively, he played 54 games in center field.

Pillar elected free agency on October 28, 2020. He signed with the New York Mets on February 21, 2021. He spent time on the IL in 2021 after being hit in the face by a pitch. He finished the season with 75 hits, 47 RBIs, 81 strikeouts to 11 walks, and a .231 batting average in 124 games.

Pillar became a free agent on November 4, 2021. He signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers on March 24, 2022.

Pillar elected free agency on November 6, 2022. He signed a minor league contract with the Braves on January 18, 2023.

Career batting statistics for Pillar through 2021 include:

• 1,029 games played
• 933 hits
• 216 doubles
• 97 home runs
• 92 stolen bases
• 391 RBIs
• 636 strikeouts to 153 walks
• .260 batting average

Career fielding statistics for Pillar as a center fielder through 2021 include:

• 816 games played
• 1,886 putouts
• 20 errors
• .990 fielding percentage

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Kevin Pillar
ESPN - Kevin Pillar