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 right-handed 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.
Day 3 of the draft.. you won’t see your name or highlights on TV.. people won’t expect anything from you.. work hard, play hard, be accountable and create your own path..You will be overlooked but remember every time you put a jersey on you have an opportunity.. chase your dream!
— Kevin Pillar (@KPILLAR4) June 5, 2019
But Pillar has given the Giants an element of 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.
It’s been at least a minor surprise that Pillar has done his best offensive work at home in a ballpark with a reputation of being death to hitters. Pillar has a .253 batting average at home and .229 on the road. Seven home runs and 25 RBIs at home as opposed to three and 13 on the road. His slugging percentage (.445 to .359) and OPS (.723 to .614) are better as well.
“Typically, bigger gaps is better for my game because I do hit the ball all over the field,” Pillar said. “There’s a lot of room out there to get hits. Defensively, I played in a smaller ballpark so this has really put me to the test, moving from center to right in a fairly tricky outfield.
“You come to a stadium like this you know has this reputation, so I kind of just try to be a little bit better of a hitter, a little more professional approach, just try to hit line drives. For me, that’s usually when the damage happens. Sometimes I get into these smaller parks and feel like I need to hit a home run to have a good series.”
Yet for all the adjustments, the ball park is a sanctuary of sorts for all that is surrounding Pillar.
“The baseball part is sometimes the easiest part, coming here to escape all the other changes that are going on,” Pillar said. “But there are challenges, facing guys for the first time, plus the relationship aspect. I’m a little reserved initially. I felt the best way to form relationships with these guys was not to be someone I wasn’t. Just try and be myself.”
CRAWFORD, BELT GET NIGHT OFF: Shortstop Brandon Crawford was out of the starting lineup in favor of Donovan Solano because of a tight hamstring. He is available to pinch hit or play defense if necessary and should be back in the lineup Tuesday, Bochy said.
Also out of the lineup was first baseman Brandon Belt in favor Pablo Sandoval. Second baseman Joe Panik will get a day off in an upcoming game with Solano taking over.
“We’re in a long stretch here,” Bochy said. “Twenty games. Give some guys some time off.”
DICKERSON DOINGS: After an explosive debut in Arizona (a grand slam and nine RBIs in his first two games), Dickerson got his first start as a Giant at home.
“We think he can help us, that’s why you acquire guys. He’s got the bat to do it,” Bochy said “The biggest thing I think he would say too is we need to keep him healthy, keep him on the field. I’ll have to keep an eye on him.”
BERGEN GETTING CLOSER: Reliever Travis Bergen, on the 10-day injured list since May 21 with a left shoulder strain, is on a rehab assignment in Sacramento. Bochy said he is nearing a return but said he did not know a specific date.
