Easy on the Grapefruit for starter Pillar
Jays fielder gets a breather after breakout season
DUNEDIN, FL A .• When Kevin Pillar arrived at spring training a few weeks ago, he sat down with manager John Gibbons and some people from the Blue Jays front office.
The message was simple. Pillar was told not to expect to play as much this spring as compared to years past — at least not early in the schedule. The Jays’ centrefielder was slightly taken aback by the plan. Previously, it was crucial he play as much as possible to show his manager and the front office what he had. He played in spring training to make the team.
But after a breakout season in 2015, Pillar no longer has to prove anything to anyone. He’s the club’s centrefielder lock, stock and barrel. The idea of cutting down his playing time in spring training is to keep him healthy and ready to start the regular season without any wear or tear from the Grapefruit League.
“He played damn near every game ( 159) last year and even the games he didn’t start, he might have gone in on defence,” said Gibbons. “And he plays that style of game, he beats himself up pretty good.
“He doesn’t have to compete for a job. That’s everything,” the manager added. “He’s had a good camp too. He doesn’t have a whole lot of numbers to show for it, but he’s hit the ball as hard as anybody all spring.”
Pillar fully understands the organization’s plan for him to play less this spring, but admits it’s been an adjustment.
“I definitely don’t play as much as I used to. And that’s kind of nice,” said the 2015 AL Gold Glove finalist. “I understand we have three weeks left and I’m sure we’ll start getting it ramped here shortly but, yeah, it’s definitely a different feeling. It’s not anything I asked for. It’s something that I earned. They understand that me staying healthy is the most important thing and to some degree the best way to keep me healthy is to keep me off the field.”
Pillar, 27, is spending more t i me working on strength training and having his body looked after by the training staff. In nine game appearances so far, he’s batting .208, but has hit the ball hard. He also has a couple of walks in 24 at-bats.
With the trade of Ben Revere to Washington for reliever Drew Storen, Pillar let it be known that he would like to take over leadoff duties for the Jays. Gibbons has slotted him in Revere’s old batting spot this spring, though it’s uncertain if he’ll start the regular season atop the order.
“The first week I had to make an adjustment because I was so used to going out there and playing 7- 8- 9 innings from the shoot, getting 4-5 at-bats a game,” said Pillar. “And it took me a while to get used to that. But I look up where we’re at today and we’ve still got three weeks left of camp.
“What they’re doing is different for me, but I definitely think it’s the right call and I think as we get closer to the end I’ ll start playing more consistently and I’ll be ready for the season,” Pillar added. “Right now I’m just kind of enjoying the process of putting in my work and staying healthy and doing the things at spring training that I need to do.
“And I’m really looking forward to getting going in April and staying healthy and being strong throughout the whole year.
“If I felt I wanted to go out there and play some more innings (this spring) or take some more at- bats, I should be able to tell them that. And if they want me to be done for the day and want me to get rest or they want me to go out there and play more, as long as we have open dialogue, I’ve got no problem with what’s going on. And so far it’s been good with our communication.”
Pillar admitted that having a starting job sewn up for the first time at the start of spring training is nice, but that doesn’t mean he’s going to take his foot off the pedal.
“There’s always stuff that you want to prove to your coaching staff and your front office,” he said. “For me it’s just about getting my work in and swinging at good pitches, and hitting the ball hard consistently. Everything else will take care of itself.”
“He’s got nothing to prove down here,” said Gibbons. “Rest him up, pick it up here a little bit at the end, he might play 162 again.”