Bisons' Pillar excelling in Triple-A trial
There's a piece of advice Kevin Pillar once got from his father, Mike, and it's stuck with the Blue Jays' Minor Leaguer.
"Don't just walk through the door," the saying goes. "Take it down."
Every path the West Hills, Calif., native has taken in his baseball career has been blocked. To date, he's smashed through every one.
A level away from his ultimate goal, Pillar is hacking at the final blockade like the Major League hitter he may soon become.
The 2011 32nd-round Draft pick continued to terrorize Triple-A pitching Sunday afternoon, going 4-for-6 with a homer, double and three RBIs as Buffalo defeated Charlotte, 11-3.
The 24-year-old right fielder also scored three times and he drove his batting average up to .395 in 10 games since being promoted from Double-A New Hampshire. He's already had a pair of four-hit effort, ripping four doubles on Wednesday at Gwinnett.
The first-inning homer was his second with the Bisons and seventh of the season. He also stole his 16th base of the season -- first with Buffalo -- and recorded an outfield assist when he nailed a runner at the plate.
Pillar has hit from his days at Chaminade High School all the way through the Minor Leagues, where he has a .328 average in 269 games across five levels.
Despite being one of the better players on his high school team, Pillar's options for college baseball were limited to Cal State-Dominguez Hills, a small Division II school whose most notable baseball product before Pillar was 12-year Major Leaguer Craig Grebeck.
Even Dominguez Hills wasn't interested in Pillar until his high school coach, Sid Lopez, moved from Chaminade to become the college's pitching coach.
"It was really the only option," Pillar said. "When I went from high school to Dominguez Hills, it wasn't a dream school by any means, but it gave me a chance to play right away. And it was about 40 miles from my house."
Pillar became an All-American and had an illustrious career with the Toros. He set a Division II record with a 54-game hitting streak as a junior and felt confident the performance would get him selected in the 2010 Draft.
"To be honest, I thought after my junior year I had a chance to be drafted," he said. "There was no guarantee in my mind that I would've taken the offer because I ... would've had to have been given a decent amount of money, a life-changing amount.
"I was OK with going back for my senior year to get my degree, although with how I think now, if I had been drafted, I probably would've just gone."
Pillar never got the chance to weigh that decision. He went undrafted in 2010, settling for another year of college ball. He said the snub left him "devastated, heartbroken" but inspired him to take to the offseason with a renewed focus.
"I made up my mind that I was going to sell out and do everything possible to not let that happen again my senior year," he said. "I put in a lot of work while I was out in Wisconsin [in the Northwoods League] for the summer.
"When I came back in the offseason and was getting ready for fall ball, I just fully committed myself to doing whatever was possible to have a good season, win some games and get myself drafted."
Pillar batted .379 with a 1.000 fielding percentage as a senior. Even with the stellar season, Draft day again proved a disappointment as he fell to the 32nd round and reportedly settled for a $1,000 signing bonus.
"I had my sights set somewhere between the eighth and ninth rounds to even the 20th round," he said. "I remember being with family and close friends and just listening to all of day two of the Draft, waiting for the phone to ring or to hear something on the Internet. It never happened.
"It was kind of the same feeling I had after my junior year -- I was pretty devastated. To be honest, I almost didn't get up in time to listen on day three of the Draft. I was in the kitchen making breakfast and I heard my name over the Internet, then I got a call from an area scout [Kevin Foxx] telling me I was drafted. I knew that was the opportunity I needed to prove myself."
He didn't waste time garnering attention. Toronto started Pillar in the Rookie-level Appalachian League, where he rocked the mostly younger competition with a .347 average, seven homers and 37 RBIs in 60 games.
The Blue Jays pushed him up the ladder in 2012, and Pillar kept hitting. He batted .322 in 86 games at Class A Lansing, then hit .323 in 42 games with Class A Advanced Dunedin to finish the year.
The 24-year-old followed that by hitting .313 in 71 games at Double-A New Hampshire this season, responding to the jump in competition with an .802 OPS. Since leaving the Fisher Cats, he's only upped his game.
Pillar boasts a simple swing and has benefited from being reunited with Bisons hitting coach Jon Nunnally. He worked with the former Major Leaguer in the Arizona Fall League last year and credited him with helping sharpen his approach.
"I just really like his style and approach to hitting," Pillar said. "He could see something in an at-bat and he's comfortable telling you how to adjust at-bat to at-bat. Most hitting coaches will let you take your at-bats and let you make your adjustments in between games. He's confident enough with all of us to tell us what he sees and make the adjustments.
"His hitting philosophy ... it's not trying to get hits on pitches early in the count but really trying to do damage early. With the type of hitter I am, I'm confident with two strikes and I can always go back to letting the ball get deep and using the whole field with two strikes."
If Pillar keeps up his torrid pace, Toronto brass is going to have to make room for him. Among those who would be happy to see him make it is his future wife.
"I promised my fiancée, Amanda, that we would get married when I made it to the big leagues," Pillar told the Fisher Cats last month for a feature on the team's website.
The way he's going, wedding bells may not be far off.
"My dad has always told me to make the best of an opportunity when it's given," Pillar said. "Make yourself known, play hard, and the rest will take care of itself."
Jake Seiner is a contributor to MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Jake_Seiner.
Minor League Baseball partners with TruGreen
FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- TruGreen, the nation's leading lawn care treatment provider, is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Minor League Baseball that includes activations across all 120 clubs, a makeover of the home dugout in each market, sponsorship of select MiLB team grounds crews, and a new initiative called
Podcast explains why the Syracuse Mets are looking for Jim Morrison
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Dash im-prom-tu promo and Mets' Suero joins the podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Minor League Baseball partners with Circle K
Minor League Baseball announced a new national partnership with Circle K, which will see the convenience store giant become the “Official Convenience Store of Minor League Baseball.” During the 2025 season, the Circle K brand will be integrated into the MiLB in-stadium experience through in-game video board assets at most
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Everything you need to know for Triple-A Opening Day
First, there was big league Opening Day. Now it's Triple-A's turn to take the spotlight. The Minor League season opens Friday when the Triple-A International League and Pacific Coast League seasons get underway for the first of MiLB’s two Opening Days. And right out of the gates, several of baseball's
Top prospects to watch at Triple-A -- one for each organization
It’s Triple-A’s turn up to bat on Friday. The regular season begins for the Minor Leagues’ highest level one day after the action starts on the Major League side. Fun fact: it’ll be the earliest start to a Minor League season since 1951 (March 27). Double-A, High-A and Single-A will
Here's where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise. Now
Nationals prospect King joins MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition:
Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won’t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game. Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is
In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King. Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization,
Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”
Stewart embraces Spring Breakout: 'What's not to love?'
PHOENIX -- Sal Stewart was one fired-up Reds prospect. On Sunday in the first inning during the organization's 9-7 Spring Breakout win over Brewers prospects, Stewart lifted a 2-2 pitch that sailed over the center fielder's head to the wall. Already not known as a speedster, he stumbled running between
Prospect Peña quietly drawing raves in Brewers' farm system
PHOENIX – Jesús Made was at the top of the Brewers’ lineup for Sunday’s 9-7 loss to the Reds in the finale of MLB’s four-day Spring Breakout, a fitting perch when you consider that the 17-year-old infielder is under a bright spotlight as MLB Pipeline’s No. 55 prospect. Made could
Brecht -- in 1st outing since '24 Draft -- wows at Spring Breakout
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Sunday's Spring Breakout showcase was the perfect unveiling for Rockies No. 5 prospect Brody Brecht. A right-handed pitcher from the University of Iowa whom the Rockies selected 38th overall last summer, Brecht had a nice collegiate resume, an interesting backstory as a former wide receiver for the
Braves prospects show promise in Spring Breakout
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- As Terry Pendleton prepared to serve as the manager of the Braves prospect team that played the Tigers prospect team in a Spring Breakout game on Sunday afternoon, he said fans should be patient with John Gil and Luis Guanipa, a pair of teenagers who have
Yanks' Lagrange flashes triple-digit heat in Spring Breakout
SARASOTA, Fla. -- There was an audible “Ooh” from the crowd at Ed Smith Stadium, and Carlos Lagrange quickly glanced beyond the right-field wall, checking the velocity of the pitch he’d just thrown in Saturday’s 5-4 Spring Breakout loss to the Orioles. It had registered in the triple digits, and
Bradfield dedicates Spring Breakout performance to late friend
SARASOTA, Fla. -- It was about more than playing in the national spotlight. More than the dinner bet placed with an old college teammate earlier in the month. More than a game. As Enrique Bradfield Jr. slid home to score a run during the first inning of Saturday night’s Spring