Outfielder Kevin Pillar beforehand stated he was “98% certain” that he was going to retire after 2024, nevertheless it looks as if he want to squeeze via that little 2% window he left open for himself. On an look on MLB Community’s Scorching Range (video hyperlink from X), Pillar stated he’s now hoping to offer it one other go subsequent 12 months. He additionally revealed that he had thumb surgical procedure on the finish of the 2024 season.
Pillar, 36 in January, began final season with the White Sox. He hit simply .160/.290/.360 in 17 video games with that membership and was again on the open market earlier than the top of April. He latched on with the Angels and it was throughout his time with that membership that he indicated retirement was probably over the horizon.
He went on to hit seven residence runs in 282 plate appearances for the Halos and produce a batting line of .236/.291/.378. Maybe extra necessary than the statistics was that Pillar’s mentality modified, in line with the person himself. “For the primary time in most likely endlessly, I used to be simply taking part in for the love of the sport, the enjoyment of the sport,” Pillar stated of his time with the Angels. “I wasn’t frightened about tomorrow, the subsequent day, my future. And I discovered lots of success in that.”
He provides that, after a while to mirror, he’s “fairly certain” that he nonetheless desires to play. He doesn’t know if any membership will supply him a spot, however he plans to remain in form and can reply the cellphone if somebody calls. Pillar spent about two weeks on the injured record in September resulting from a left thumb sprain. Within the clip, he mentions that he underwent surgical procedure on the finish of the season, although he gave no indication that the process is impacting his offseason preparations.
At his peak, Pillar was a strong on a regular basis participant, overcoming subpar offense together with his sturdy glovework and baserunning. From 2015 to 2021, he bought into 940 video games for numerous golf equipment, hitting .261/.298/.412 for a wRC+ of 88. However he stole 91 bases in that stretch and was graded as an above-average middle fielder, permitting him to supply 10 wins above alternative over these six full seasons plus the shortened 2020 marketing campaign.
Since then, he’s been extra of a task participant. He can nonetheless play middle discipline a bit bit, although solely sporadically and with grades nearer to league common. He hit .225/.271/.387 in 185 video games over the previous three years for a wRC+ of 79, swiping one other 16 baggage.
Pillar has hit lefties higher in his profession, with a 106 wRC+ with the platoon benefit and a 78 with out. That continued to be the case in 2024, with a 139 wRC+ in opposition to southpaws and a 54 mark in any other case. For any membership in search of a right-handed hitting bench outfielder who can play competent protection and run the bases, Pillar is out there and absolutely gained’t price a lot, after getting a $3MM assure from the White Sox in 2024.
Groups just like the Pink Sox, Orioles, Diamondbacks, Phillies, Tigers and others could possibly be in search of right-handed bats to complement their respective outfields. Pillar will be a part of gamers like Teoscar Hernández, Tyler O’Neill, Randal Grichuk, Ramón Laureano, Austin Hays, Tommy Pham and others as righty-swinging outfielders that can be into consideration.
