Two months ago, Kevin Pillar thought his career would end 17 hits shy of 1,000 and two months before achieving 10 years of service time. The worst team in baseball, the Chicago White Sox, released him for the second time in a month. But two days later, Pillar signed a new major-league contract, securing a second chance with the Los Angeles Angels.
On Saturday, Pillar celebrated a decade in MLB—an achievement marking what could potentially be his final season in baseball. Since making his big-league debut in 2013, the 35-year-old has journeyed through nine different teams, going through two trades. As he entered his 30s, he navigated through non-guaranteed minor league contracts hoping to make another major league roster. Pillar has won in the postseason, and he has also played for some of the worst teams in baseball. But he finally reached his 10 years of service time, a milestone reached by just seven percent of players.
Pillar wore a suit to the ballpark on Saturday to commemorate the occasion, his locker decorated with balloons and streamers.
It’s a big day for Kevin Pillar, who reached 10 years of service time. His pension is now fully vested. Fewer than 10 percent of MLB players reach 10 years of service time. He wore a suit to the ballpark. pic.twitter.com/XOQBFt020w
— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) July 6, 2024
“The essence of 10 years is you’re fully invested in your pension, but to us baseball players, it’s more,” said Pillar. “The epitome of the service-time mark you reach is to know that you’ve really accomplished something very rare in this game. Ten years is kind of like the marker that you’ve been able to survive this game and endure this game.”
Kevin Pillar Likely to Retire After 10 Years in MLB
Pillar found his way to Anaheim in April, after Mike Trout got hurt and Aaron Hicks was designated for assignment. Who could have predicted that after hitting .160 for the White Sox and questioning his future, he would be batting .299 with an .867 OPS?
Los Angeles gave Kevin Pillar an opportunity to play, but his production has allowed him to enjoy playing the game. The veteran outfielder has reached all the milestones he was aiming for and will likely retire after this season. Pillar is one of 17 active players with 100 career homers, 100 steals, 1,000 hits, and 500 runs scored. Now, after playing for nine different teams since the start of 2019, he wants to go out on his terms.
10 years! pic.twitter.com/FQT4t1kU8V
— Kevin Pillar (@KPILLAR4) July 6, 2024
“I watched some of my good friends and teammates, who were much better players than me, maybe go a year too long,” Pillar said. “I think it would be kind of cool to go out playing really well, and people being curious to why you don’t want to play anymore, and not that the game kicked you out. Not everyone really gets that opportunity in this game.”
Photo Credit: © Jonathan Hui-USA TODAY Sports
