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Former Blue Jays Star Announces Major Career Decision on Wednesday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Rowan Fisher-Shotton | Last updated Jul 2, 2025 4:11 PM ET

Drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 32nd round (979th overall) of the 2011 MLB Draft, Kevin Pillar rose through the minors before earning a call to the majors on Aug. 14, 2013, at age 24.

From his debut through his trade in April 2019, Pillar became synonymous with the Blue Jays.

His wall‑leaping grabs routinely made highlight reels and in 2018, he became the first Jay to swipe three bases in a single inning (second, third and straight home) since Aaron Hill in 2007.

However, on Wednesday, during an episode of "Foul Territory," Pillar made it official, formally announcing his retirement from professional baseball.

"I guess I can officially say that I’m done playing. I wanted to be 100% sure. … I talked to a lot of guys. … They said it’s nearly impossible to retire and then come back. So, I wanted to make sure that I was really done playing."

BREAKING: Kevin Pillar announces his retirement after 13 years in the big leagues.

Congratulations on a great career, @KPILLAR4! pic.twitter.com/uoi1el7agW
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) July 2, 2025

In 2016, he led all MLB center fielders in defensive runs saved (21) and Ultimate Zone Rating (21.4), finishing as a Gold Glove finalist and winning the Fielding Bible Award for center field.

He topped Toronto’s 2018 squad in batting average among qualifying hitters (.252), doubles (40, career-high) and stolen bases (14), pairing that with 15 homers and 59 RBIs.

Over 695 games in Toronto, Pillar’s blend of hustle, reliability and highlight‑reel plays cemented him as one of the most beloved Blue Jays of the 2010s.

After leaving Toronto, Pillar suited up for nine more clubs, including the San Francisco Giants, Boston Red Sox, Colorado Rockies, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels and Texas Rangers, completing a 13‑season MLB career.

By the spring of 2025, he amassed 1,053 career hits, 114 home runs and 469 RBIs, a .255 batting average over 1,234 games and 111 stolen bases.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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