Kevin Pillar emerges as Giants’ most consistent threat
SAN FRANCISCO — Kevin Pillar has been a constant in an ever-changing season for the Giants.
Outfielders have come and gone in a season-long quest to determine an adequate 25-man roster. Pillar was flanked in the starting lineup Monday night by Mike Yastrzemski in right and Alex Dickerson in left when the Giants opened a seven-game homestand against the Colorado Rockies at Oracle Park. It was the 69th time in 71 games Pillar has been a starter.
It was Pillar’s 47th start in center, and he’s also had 27 in right on days when Stephen Duggar plays center field. Right field is a relatively new concept for Pillar, whose plays in center with the Toronto Blue Jays were so often of highlight film quality he built a cult following in Canada.
Pillar, 30, has had to get used to new things since arriving on April 2 in exchange for righthanded pitchers Derek Law and Juan DePaula and infielder Alen Hansen. He went from the American League to the National League, with a whole new set of pitchers to learn as a hitter as well as a defender. Went from the East Coast to the West Coast. From Canada to the United States. From a place to where he was beloved to one where he was unknown.
“To me the most important thing was getting my family settled, getting myself settled, trying to get back to feeling normal again,” Pillar said. “I’ve been here about 2 1/2 months now and things have been going pretty good.”
Good enough that Pillar is one of five big league players to lead his team (not including Toronto totals) in runs (39), hits (66), home runs (10) and RBIs (37). The others — the Angels’ Mike Trout, the Pirates’ Josh Bell, the Braves’ Freddie Freeman and the Indians Carlos Santana — are being talked up as All-Star game candidates.
Pillar leads the Giants with eight stolen bases and is tied with Buster Posey and Pablo Sandoval for the team lead with 15 doubles.
The All-Star Game is not going to happen for Pillar. He’s never been looked at in that way since being drafted in the 32nd round by Toronto and then being the first player in his Blue Jays draft class to make it to the big leagues. Pillar thinks about that often, and it’s part of what drives him. He said as much on his Twitter account during the recently completed major league draft.
But Pillar has given the Gi
ants an element hard-nosed hustle that’s been undeniable.
“I think it’s kind of my DNA,” Pillar said. “It’s who I am and it’s allowed me to have this opportunity and to stay in the big leagues. I don’t envision that changing no matter how long I’m doing it.”
Pillar’s level of play has risen with Giants as he’s learned his new surroundings.
“He’s played great baseball, hasn’t he?,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “He’s made a huge impact.”
In the Giants’ 11 games preceding the homestand, Pillar had hits in 10 of them and hit .395 with 14 runs scored, three doubles, four home runs and 10 RBIs.