Kevin Pillar Making an Impact Early in Camp
The 32-year-old could be an integral bench piece in Flushing
Image via New York Mets
Through five Grapefruit League appearances, New York Mets outfielder Kevin Pillar is 6-for-12 with two doubles, a triple, and just one strikeout.
Spring training or not, against opposing pitchers whom baseball-reference.com has tallied as an 8.0 out of possible 10 as far as quality, that will most certainly play.
Following his most accomplished offensive season, albeit in a COVID-shortened campaign, last year (.288/.336/.462, six homers, 12 doubles, three triples, 106 wRC+, 1.1 fWAR [3.4 fWAR-pace over a full season] over 223 plate appearances), the 32-year-old landed a one-year, $5 million deal with the Mets.
Some have pointed to Pillar’s performance last season — even going back to 2019, specifically his career-high 21 home runs amid an era scrutinized by ball inconsistencies — as having mirage potential.
Maybe so, but there are additional appealing peripherals that presumably endeared Pillar to the Mets.
The longtime Blue Jays fixture creams breaking balls (.304/.344/.482 in 2020, weighted on-base for middle-slash; .310/.341/.497 in 2019), accumulated a +12 run value versus sliders in 2019, and a +5 mark against four-seamers last season — both excellent.
Pillar, a right-handed batter, also hits southpaws exceptionally well (.823 OPS in 2019, .969 in 2020).
If the Mets were to space out Smith and Pete Alonso in the batting order and double-switch Smith to first and Pillar into left field late in the game, Mets manager Luis Rojas would have quite the ace up his sleeve whenever the need arises.
And Pillar’s defense, of course, is a plus. It’s certainly nowhere near the +16 outs above average-level of production he put forth in centerfield in 2016, but, despite consistent drops in performance recently (+4 OAA in CF in 2018; +2 OAA, 2019; +/- 0 OAA, 2020), it still suits this roster well.
He and the Mets’ other offseason outfield depth addition, Albert Almora, add a much-needed wrinkle to a New York outfield that fielded three of the statistically-worst outfielders (by OAA) in baseball last season.
Michael Conforto (-6 OAA), Brandon Nimmo (-4 OAA), and Dominic Smith (-2 OAA) bring oodles of offensive upside to Queens, but arguable inequities on the other side of the chalk certainly leave the Mets vulnerable.
To clarify, Conforto has been an outstanding defensive outfielder over the course of his career (+5 OAA in right field in 2019 alone), and before last season (104 games), Nimmo had never put up a negative OAA in centerfield.
Having capable replacements in case of underperformance and/or injury is never a bad thing. And Pillar and Almora fit that bill perfectly.
In all likelihood, Pillar will assume a bench position in Queens, scoring spot starts across the outfield and entering as a defensive replacement late in games.
Though, with a hot start on his side this spring, that could evolve into a more prominent role for the eight-year MLB veteran. We shall see.
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