Former Blue Jays outfielder <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pillake01.shtml">Kevin Pillar</a> has found himself a side gig this offseason, as the 35-year-old who started the year with the Chicago White Sox before joining the Los Angeles Angels in early May &#8216;suited up&#8217; to join the MLB Central program earlier this evening on Sportsnet before and during Game #3 of the World Series.
Sitting beside veteran analysts Jamie Campbell and Caleb Joseph at the table, Pillar added insight and knowledge from his playing days before the game and during mid-inning cutaways throughout the Yankees and Dodgers contest.
Pillar started his Major League career in Toronto, with the former 32nd-round pick from the 2011 MLB Draft signing with the Blue Jays shortly after. His bonus was $1,000 and essentially a plane ticket out to Bluefield to play Rookie League ball. Fast forward two years later, he was stepping into the batter&#8217;s box at the Rogers Centre.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Superman on Sportsnet 🦸‍♂️
Kevin Pillar is joining MLB Central for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldSeries?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldSeries</a> coverage, starting tonight with Game 3 ⚾️
Tune in at 7pm ET / 4pm PT 📺 <a href="https://t.co/0EmlnFcmE9">pic.twitter.com/0EmlnFcmE9</a>
&mdash; Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sportsnet/status/1850932233923666017?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
It took Pillar a couple of seasons to secure a permanent spot in the Blue Jays outfield and thanks to an untimely injury to Canadian Michael Saunders, Pillar took over in centre field for the 2015 season and didn&#8217;t look back, holding onto the position for the next three seasons.
Nicknamed &#8216;Superman&#8217;, Pillar made numerous highlight-reel grabs in the outfield during his seven seasons with the Jays and finished with a .260/.297/.396 slash line with 55 home runs, 231 RBIs, and a .692 OPS through 695 games. He was also part of the club&#8217;s 2015 and 2016 postseason runs and famously can be seen charging at Rougned Odor during the 2016 scuffle between the former Rangers infielder and Jays slugger Jose Bautista.
With the Jays rebuilding following the 2016 playoff run, Pillar was traded to the San Francisco Giants early into the 2019 season and has suited up for eight different organizations over the years with some stints in the minor leagues as well. Earlier this season with the Angels, he attained ten years of service time and <a href="https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/report-kevin-pillar-setting-eyes-on-retirement-following-12th-mlb-season/">eluded to the 2024 season</a> potentially being his last.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
We’re thrilled to have <a href="https://twitter.com/KPILLAR4?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KPILLAR4</a> join us on “MLB Central” beginning Monday for <a href="https://twitter.com/Sportsnet?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Sportsnet</a> coverage of Game 3, 4, and *5 (*if necessary). <a href="https://t.co/ZKsq9UumzL">pic.twitter.com/ZKsq9UumzL</a>
&mdash; Jamie Campbell (@SNETCampbell) <a href="https://twitter.com/SNETCampbell/status/1849957409361465756?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 25, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
While Pillar <a href="https://www.mlbplayers.com/features/the-next-chapter">has not officially hung up his cleats just yet,</a> should he not find a contract when Spring Training rolls around, fans have likely seen the last of &#8216;Superman&#8217; on the ball diamond.
Considering Sportsnet is giving him a chance to join the table with Campbell and Joseph during the World Series, we are likely getting a glimpse of where Pillar is looking to pivot once his playing career is officially over.
You can see Pillar on MLB Central at Sportsnet for World Series coverage for Games #4 and #5 (if necessary).

Former Blue Jays outfielder <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pillake01.shtml">Kevin Pillar</a> has found himself a side gig this offseason, as the 35-year-old who started the year with the Chicago White Sox before joining the Los Angeles Angels in early May 'suited up' to join the MLB Central program earlier this evening on Sportsnet before and during Game #3 of the World Series.

Sitting beside veteran analysts Jamie Campbell and Caleb Joseph at the table, Pillar added insight and knowledge from his playing days before the game and during mid-inning cutaways throughout the Yankees and Dodgers contest.

Pillar started his Major League career in Toronto, with the former 32nd-round pick from the 2011 MLB Draft signing with the Blue Jays shortly after. His bonus was $1,000 and essentially a plane ticket out to Bluefield to play Rookie League ball. Fast forward two years later, he was stepping into the batter's box at the Rogers Centre.

https://twitter.com/Sportsnet/status/1850932233923666017

It took Pillar a couple of seasons to secure a permanent spot in the Blue Jays outfield and thanks to an untimely injury to Canadian Michael Saunders, Pillar took over in centre field for the 2015 season and didn't look back, holding onto the position for the next three seasons.

Nicknamed 'Superman', Pillar made numerous highlight-reel grabs in the outfield during his seven seasons with the Jays and finished with a .260/.297/.396 slash line with 55 home runs, 231 RBIs, and a .692 OPS through 695 games. He was also part of the club's 2015 and 2016 postseason runs and famously can be seen charging at Rougned Odor during the 2016 scuffle between the former Rangers infielder and Jays slugger Jose Bautista.

With the Jays rebuilding following the 2016 playoff run, Pillar was traded to the San Francisco Giants early into the 2019 season and has suited up for eight different organizations over the years with some stints in the minor leagues as well. Earlier this season with the Angels, he attained ten years of service time and <a href="https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/report-kevin-pillar-setting-eyes-on-retirement-following-12th-mlb-season/">eluded to the 2024 season</a> potentially being his last.

https://twitter.com/SNETCampbell/status/1849957409361465756

While Pillar <a href="https://www.mlbplayers.com/features/the-next-chapter">has not officially hung up his cleats just yet,</a> should he not find a contract when Spring Training rolls around, fans have likely seen the last of 'Superman' on the ball diamond.

Considering Sportsnet is giving him a chance to join the table with Campbell and Joseph during the World Series, we are likely getting a glimpse of where Pillar is looking to pivot once his playing career is officially over.

You can see Pillar on MLB Central at Sportsnet for World Series coverage for Games #4 and #5 (if necessary).

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