2023 Braves Player Review: Kevin Pillar

Posted by Rusty S. | Dec 22, 2023 | 2023 Player Reviews, Braves Offseason | 12

The Braves signed 34-year-old free agent outfielder Kevin Pillar in January. Pillar spent most of 2022 with the Dodgers AAA team in Oklahoma City, before fracturing his left shoulder in June of that season.

The right-handed batter got into 81 games for Atlanta in 2023 and got 197 at bats. Despite being used partly to platoon in left field with the left-handed Eddie Rosario, Pillar still managed to get almost as many ABs against right-handed pitchers as lefties (95 to 111.)

Kevin hit 5 of his 9 home runs in the month of May but didn’t do too much after that. His final line was .228/.248/.416, and he was awarded -0.1 bWAR.

Pillar was granted free agency on November 2nd. He had some good moments and seemed like a good guy to pull for, but he has not had a season worth 1 bWAR since 2018. Perhaps in 2024 that spot will be filled by someone with some upside.

About The Author

Rusty S.

Rusty S. is a Braves Journal reader since 2005 and an occasional innings-eater. It was my understanding that there would be no expectations.

12 Comments

sdp on December 22, 2023 at 11:04 am

Adjusted to 2023 dollars, Hank Aaron made less than $14 million in his career. Now we have players who haven’t stepped foot on an MLB field getting $325 million guaranteed. What a world.
- Coop on December 22, 2023 at 12:43 pm
  
  Head shake emoji.
Roger on December 22, 2023 at 11:04 am

A Kelenic/Grissom platoon should provide that bWAR boost. With Wall for defense, I think we’re covered. Still looking for that SP boost…..

Even with Yamamoto, the Braves still project better than the Dodgers (Fangraphs). Only the Phillies and Dodgers project for better pitching. If the Braves add 1.4 WAR of projection from the starting staff, we will have the best pitching as well as the best hitting. Any of the remaining aces could do that – Snell, Montgomery, Cease, Bieber. Even Imanaga, Giolito, Paxton, Stroman, Manaea could accomplish that or come close.
Kip on December 22, 2023 at 11:07 am

DOOOMED
Bravo on December 22, 2023 at 1:18 pm

Who cares about Kevin Pillar? The guy was just ok while he was here, and doesn’t want to come back and even if he did, he wasn’t a long term option for the Braves.
- Rusty S. on December 22, 2023 at 8:00 pm
  
  Hey, I’m just eating innings here.
B14 on December 22, 2023 at 1:26 pm

There’s a new Fangraphs article discussing AA’s financial maneuvering.
Coop on December 24, 2023 at 2:12 pm

Merry Christmas.

God bless us everyone.
- Alex Remington (Another Alex R.) on December 24, 2023 at 4:00 pm
  
  Thanks, Coop.
  
  To us all and all our loved ones, health, happiness, and a chance to be together with those we hold dear.
  
  May tomorrow be brighter than today.
- Roger on December 24, 2023 at 8:15 pm
  
  Happy Holidays, All.
Tfloyd on December 25, 2023 at 8:37 am

God bless us, everyone!
Ryan Cothran on December 25, 2023 at 6:59 pm

Merry Christmas to all our Braves Journal commenters and authors! May we see this blog last another 30 years! Much love to all.