Former Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Kevin Pillar decided to call it a career after 13 seasons in the Majors.
Pillar signed a Minor League contract with the Texas Rangers in February and began the season with the team after making their Opening Day roster. Pillar played in 20 games for the Rangers this season before being designated for assignment on May 25 and was released the following week after clearing waivers.
Pillar decided it was time to retire a little over a month later, which he explained while making the during an appearance on “Foul Territory:”
“I guess I can officially say that I’m done playing. I wanted to be 100% sure, because of things I went through last year, I kind of said it was going to be my last year, and I got into the offseason and my mindset kind of changed. I talked to a lot of guys that are no longer playing anymore, and they said it’s near-impossible to kind of retire and come back. So I wanted to make sure that I was really done playing.”
Pillar spent all of 2022 with the Dodgers organization but only played four games in the Majors that season. He signed a Minor League contract in March 2022 and began the season with Triple-A Oklahoma City, hitting .315/.412/.622 in 127 at bats.
Pillar was called up to the Majors and played four games before fracturing his left shoulder on a slide into third base during a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Pillar underwent left shoulder surgery, and he returned to play in six Minor League rehab games at the end of September.
Pillar experienced more injury troubles in 2025, with lower back inflammation causing him to miss 11 game for the Rangers before he was released.
Kevin Pillar’s Major League career
Pillar was born in West Hills, Calif., and grew up a Dodgers fan. He attended California State University, Dominguez Hills and finished his college career as the school’s all-time leader with a .367 batting average.
Pillar was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 32nd round of the 2011 MLB Draft at No. 979 overall. Pillar spent his first seven seasons in MLB with the Blue Jays. In total, he played for 10 different teams over his 13-year career.
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