Superman mortal after all; Jays’ Pillar headed to DL
Kevin Pillar could only shrug. The Blue Jays’ athletic centre-fielder, who has built a strong defensive resume on making spectacular catches, has been put on the 15-day disabled list with a left thumb injury after an everyday slide into second base.
“It’s definitely disappointing,” Pillar said Monday before the Jays played host to the Tampa Bay Rays to open a three-game set at the Rogers Centre.
“I have been very fortunate my whole life for the most part and especially here in the big leagues to be able to avoid injuries with my style of play.
“For it to happen on a fairly routine play I have done thousands of times in my career, it’s unfortunate.”
Pillar was hurt during the seventh inning of a 4-2 Toronto loss in Kansas City against the Royals Saturday. He did not play Sunday in the final game of the Jays’ sevengame trip.
The Jays recalled outfielder Darrell Ceciliani from triple-A Buffalo to take Pillar’s spot on the roster.
In a release, the Jays said Pillar’s injury was a sprain. Manager John Gibbons later referred to it as a “torn ligament” and indicated he was not sure whether Pillar would require surgery in the off-season.
At any rate, the expectation from the club and the player is Pillar will spend only the minimum time on the disabled list.
“That’s my prognosis,” Pillar said.
Gibbons indicated Melvin Upton Jr., acquired July 26 from the San Diego Padres, will get the bulk of the playing time in centre with Pillar out.
Upton’s goal was to start showing improvement at the plate. Prior to Monday, he had four hits in 32 atbats (.125) with Toronto and was hitting .245 overall.
“Since being over here, offensively it has not gone the way I wanted it to so far, but it’s part of the game,” Upton said. “You are going to have ups and downs in this game. There’s not much I’m going to change. Hopefully I will produce a little more. I feel great. It will turn.”
DIAMOND DUST
Ceciliani is with the Jays for the second time after a brief stint with Toronto in June. He was hitting .268 with a .775 OPS with Buffalo. “Nerves-wise, (the previous tenure) helps a lot,” Ceciliani said. “I’m not necessarily going to go out and impress, just go out and compete. Be ready for all the plays defensively and help the team win.” ... With three off-days in the next two weeks, Gibbons was asked whether he was concerned what that would be mean for a team now using a six-man rotation rather than a five-man setup. Would more rest upset a pitcher’s rhythm? “I’m not so sure it affects you as much this time of year as it does earlier on when they are trying to get rolling,” Gibbons said. “This time of year, they welcome it every now and then. We will adjust if we have to.”