SAD BREAKING:Former San Francisco Giants star announces he is likely retiring after this season
The San Francisco Giants have witnessed numerous stars retire or leave the team, often unsure if they still had more to give. It’s always tough for athletes to know the right time to walk away.
However, one former player seems to have a clear sense of timing. Kevin Pillar told Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY that 2024 is likely his final season in Major League Baseball. He expressed a desire to reach 10 years of service time, a milestone he nearly missed when the Chicago White Sox released him two months before hitting it. Fortunately, the Los Angeles Angels picked him up, and he has performed well, hitting .281/.347/.490 with seven homers and 30 RBIs in 59 games, also reaching 1,000 career hits.
Reflecting on his decision, Pillar said, “I watched some of my good friends and teammates, who were much better players than me, maybe go a year too long. I think it would be kind of cool to go out playing really well, and people being curious why you don’t want to play anymore, and not that the game kicked you out.”
In 2022, Pillar only played four games with the Los Angeles Dodgers due to a shoulder fracture. The next year, he played 81 games for the Atlanta Braves but struggled with a .228/.248/.416 slash line. Things looked bleak when he went 4-for-25 and was released by the worst team in baseball.
However, the Angels have given him a chance to end his career on his terms. “Not everyone really gets that opportunity in this game. I was very close to not getting that opportunity. I don’t know what the future looks like, even in this year, but if I can keep up what I’m doing and having a very good offensive year, it might be a cool thing to leave people wanting more.”
The Giants were the first team he played for outside of the Toronto Blue Jays, who drafted him in the 32nd round of the 2011 MLB draft. After six solid seasons with Toronto, he was traded to San Francisco in 2019. With the Giants, Pillar played in 156 games, hitting .264/.293/.442 with 21 homers, 61 extra-base hits, and 87 RBIs. He received the Willie Mac Award and even got an NL MVP vote. Despite his success, he was not tendered a contract after one season and became a journeyman, playing for seven different teams.
Reflecting on his career, the 35-year-old Pillar feels he’s ready to retire. “In my heart, I’m 98% sure,” he told Nightengale.
If this is indeed his final season, Pillar has accomplished more than most players drafted in his position ever do.
