Among the various moves the Los Angeles Dodgers made last year to fill out their organizational depth was signing Kevin Pillar to a Minor League contract with a non-roster invite to Spring Training.
Although Pillar spent the 2021 season with the New York Mets and was facing long odds to make the Dodgers’ roster, he believed joining the team would aid his career longevity. Furthermore, it also represented a homecoming for the West Hills, California native.
Pillar began last season with Triple-A Oklahoma City before joining the Dodgers roster at the end of May. He only appeared in four games before sustaining a dislocated left shoulder that required surgery.
Pillar’s time with the Dodgers organization now has come to an end after just one season. According to Steve Adams of MLB Trade Rumors, Pillar signed a Minor League contract with the Atlanta Braves:
Veteran OF Kevin Pillar and the #Braves have agreed to a minor league deal, I’m told. He’ll earn a $3MM salary if he makes the big league roster.
— Steve Adams (@Adams_Steve) January 18, 2023
While with OKC, Pillar hit .315/.398/.604 with 10 home runs and 40 RBI. Albeit over a much smaller sample size, he had just one hit in 12 at-bats with the Dodgers.
Despite Dodgers manager Dave Roberts ruling Pillar out for the rest of the season after his left shoulder surgery, the veteran outfielder began a hitting program in August and appeared in six games with OKC during the final month.
Pillar was with the Dodgers for their workouts prior to the National League Division Series but was left off the postseason roster.
“I worked really hard to put myself in a position to be here,” Pillar said last year. “This was the place I ultimately wanted to be, that I dreamed of since I was a little kid. I finally felt like I was fitting in here.”
Kevin Pillar stats
Over 10 seasons in the Majors, Pillar has hit .259/.296/.408 with 217 doubles, 97 home runs and 391 RBI. He’s played for the Toronto Blue Jays, San Francisco Giants, Boston Red Sox, Colorado Rockies, Mets and Dodgers.
The Blue Jays selected Pillar with the No. 32 overall pick in the 2011 MLB Draft.
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