Kevin Pillar is hanging up his Superman cape. On an look on Foul Territoryhe introduced that he’s retiring from taking part in. He was with the Rangers earlier this 12 months however was launched a couple of month in the past.
Pillar, now 36, was in a position to engineer an unimaginable zero-to-hero profession. The Blue Jays drafted him within the Thirty second spherical of the 2011 draft. However regardless of that humble starting, he wouldn’t solely make it to the large leagues however he would stick round for greater than a decade.
His greatest asset was his protection, as he shortly earned a repute for making highlight-reel catchestypically diving horizontally in a approach that earned him his Superman nickname. He received some restricted large league time in 2013 and 2014 earlier than absolutely cementing himself as an enormous leaguer in 2015.
That 12 months, he received into 159 video games for the Jays, producing a batting line of .278/.314/.399. His 94 wRC+ indicated he was 6% under league common on the plate, however that was greater than enough to pair along with his different attributes. He stole 25 bases and acquired robust grades for his glovework, main FanGraphs to credit score him with 3.7 wins above substitute. That performed an enormous function in getting the Jays to the postseason for the primary time since 1993. Although the membership was finally felled by the Royals within the ALCS, the Jays received José Bautista’s legendary bat flip recreation alongside the best way.
That may in the end show to be an apex for Pillar. He by no means once more stole greater than 15 bases nor topped a 90 wRC+ in a full season. However he nonetheless proved to be a helpful participant in usually the identical form, along with his pace and protection making up for some subpar offense. From 2016 to 2018, he received into 442 video games for the Jays, slashing .258/.296/.401 for an 86 wRC+ and producing 4.5 fWAR.
By the point the 2019 season had rolled round, Pillar was 30 years previous and the Jays had been rebuilding. Early that 12 months, he was flipped to the Giants, which began the journeyman interval of his profession. Over the subsequent few years, he would bounce to the Crimson Sox, Rockies, Mets, Dodgers, Braves, White Sox, Angels and Rangers. Although he had moved into his 30s, his efficiency was roughly the identical as earlier than, although along with his glovework naturally slipping a bit. Over these 2019-25 seasons, he performed 544 video games and hit .246/.284/.415 for an 85 wRC+ and produced 2.4 fWAR.
Most lately, he had a stint with the Rangers however hit simply .209/.209/.256 in 20 video games earlier than getting designated for project and launched. He had flirted with retirement earlier than however now appears to have determined that it’s time to hold up the spikes.
Any Thirty second-round decide making it to the large leagues is exceedingly uncommon. In truth, the draft was shortened to twenty rounds just a few years in the past, so it possible received’t occur once more. Pillar not solely made it, however he received into 1,234 video games over 13 seasons. He racked up 1,053 hits, together with 114 dwelling runs. He was credited with 10.8 WAR from FanGraphs and 16.1 from Baseball Reference. He earned about $25MM in his profession, in response to Baseball Reference. We at MLB Commerce Rumors congratulate Pillar on a formidable profession and want him the very best with no matter comes subsequent.
