Jays centre fielder Kevin Pillar’s perspective is all about winning
DUNEDIN, FLA. — Kevin Pillar reported to Blue Jays camp last spring preaching how he could be the best leadoff man in the American League, and win a Gold Glove.
Fast forward to this year and Pillar just wants to hit anywhere in the lineup, a spot where he can best contribute to a winner. He also claims to understand why he was not ranked among the game’s best centre fielders.
Oh, and he’s a first-time father to, Kobie, with wife, Amanda. There is a very good chance the changes to Pillar’s personal and professional life are linked.
“Going home and seeing your kid puts a lot of things in perspective,” Pillar said in the Jays’ clubhouse at Dunedin Stadium. “It’s going to be something that’s a nice buffer when things aren’t going well; understanding that I’ve got a bigger purpose in this life than just being a baseball player — being a good father. And when I get home and see my little girl, it puts it in perspective for me.”
One of the popular off-season activities online is ranking the top players by position.
The Angels’ Mike Trout led MLB.com’s list of centre fielders, based on both offence and defence, with Tampa Bay’s Kevin Kiermaier, often compared to Pillar, at No. 7. While Pillar makes more highlight-of-thenight catches than anybody else, he didn’t make the list (though new teammate Randal Grichuk came in at No. 8) and he didn’t win the Gold Glove (Minnesota’s Byron Buxton did).
“I use anything as motivation to try to get better,” Pillar said. “I’m pretty internally motivated and understand that, rightfully so, I get left off those lists. I still feel like I have a lot to prove not only to myself, but to baseball. That’s something that motivates me to get better every day and go out there.
“I don’t necessarily play for the recognition. I don’t play to be ranked on the top-10 lists. I play for my teammates and most importantly I play to win. Hopefully if I’m able to find myself on a list one day, I’ll put this organization in a better position, I’ll put myself in a better position. Hopefully that results in winning games.”
As for his offensive ability, he cares not where he bats in the order, just that he contributes. Pillar opened the spring with six hits in his first seven at-bats. He slimmed down slightly in the off-season and seems comfortable with his new body, scorching baseballs to all fields.
“The game’s changing from a statistical standpoint,” Pillar said. “On-base is key now, so for me it’s a matter of trying to get my swing off on a pitch in the (strike) zone and understanding that you’re going to face certain pitchers where these guys are going to make quality pitches.
“It’s hard to hit those really good pitches in a game. You’ve got to be disciplined enough to sit around, work counts and wait for mistakes to show up. I’m really just trying to allow the game to dictate what I’m going to do at the plate.”
Even though the hitting styles are very different, Pillar has learned about the art of preparation by watching teammate Justin Smoak on a daily basis.
“(Justin) was just really good at getting in a routine and a regimen,” Pillar said. “He would do the same thing in the weight room every day as far as getting his body ready. The same couple of drills in the cage, then you ask him to hit in the (batting practice) home-run derby and he says, ‘No way, I don’t hit home runs in BP.’ It’s not something he feels gets him ready for the game. I’m really trying to understand that. I should be able, in the controlled BP environment, to control my rhythm and tempo and what I want to do with the bat.”
Pillar said he finally understands that, even though he could dominate while batting at the top or in the middle of the batting order as a minor-leaguer, most everyone else in the majors could, too. He is ready to accept whatever spot, whatever role he is assigned.
“I want to ideally be in a place where I have the ability to drive in runs,” Pillar said, which in a good American League lineup is pretty much anywhere. “I’m just happy to go out there and play every day, wherever I hit, and just make the best of the at-bats that I have and continue to work on my craft of being a good hitter.”
Pillar might not have a Gold Glove on his shelf and he may be criticized as an average first step that creates the need for closing speed and the occasional dive, but the bottom line is that this year he can look to either side and see Curtis Granderson and Grichuk and realize that the pitching staff will benefit in 2018 with fewer parachutes dropping in the outfield.
“I think that just has to do with the game we’re playing now,” Pillar said. “Guys tend to want to lift the ball and drive the ball more. So, in return, outfielders are playing a little bit deeper.
Any time we can improve our defence overall it’s going to help our pitching staff out. With the strength of our starting pitching, the more outs we can get for these guys, especially early in their starts, allows them to go deeper into games.