Every single year Braves Country falls in love with an insignificant piece of the team, and last year, one of them was Kevin Pillar.
In a platoon role with Eddie Rosario, he never contributed a ton offensively but provided solid defense, a veteran presence, and a hard-nosed style of play that resonated with fans.
I love Kevin Pillar. There was never a fly ball that he wouldn’t run through a fence for. Whether it was a meaningless May game or the ninth inning of a postseason game, Pillar played with the same intensity.
Unfortunately for him, the Braves had higher hopes for left field, electing not to bring him or Rosario back in 2024, replacing them with Jarred Kelenic and Adam Duvall.
To this point, the duo has been an upgrade over their predecessors. Rosario signed a two-way contract with the Nationals this offseason and hasn’t done much in the majors while Pillar signed a minor league pact with the White Sox and made the big league roster out of camp.
Though he hit for decent power with the Braves last year, Pillar has struggled to start the season, much like the majority of the White Sox offense. He has only taken 32 trips to the plate, slashing a putrid .160/.290/.360 with a homer and two doubles.
Most recently, the former Braves fan favorite has been designated for assignment, according to Ken Rosenthal.
At 35 years old, I don’t know how many more opportunities Pillar is going to have while the Braves enjoy their new left field platoon of Kelenic and Duvall.
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