Red Sox Sign Kevin Pillar to 1 Year Contract
The Boston Red Sox signed outfielder Kevin Pillar to a 1 year contract for the 2020 season on Friday, February 14th
The Red Sox’ 40-man roster is now at 40.
According to a press release by the Boston Red Sox, Pillar, 31, hit .259 (158-for-611) with 14 stolen bases last season and set career highs in home runs (21), RBI (88), slugging percentage (.432), OPS (.719), and triples (3) in 161 games for the Toronto Blue Jays and San Francisco Giants. A right-handed hitter, he batted .278 (45-for-162) and slugged .519 against left-handed pitchers in 2019, hitting nine home runs with only 15 strikeouts. The three-time Gold Glove Award finalist (2015-17) appeared in 133 games in center field and 27 in right field, recording six assists and two double plays.
Selected by Toronto in the 32nd round of the 2011 June Draft, Pillar has hit .261 (798-for-3,062) with 76 home runs and 318 RBI in 851 major league games over seven seasons with the Blue Jays (2013-19) and Giants (2019). In 47 career games at Fenway Park, he has hit .307 (55-for-179) with one home run. From 2015-19, his 53 defensive runs saved ranked seventh among outfielders, according to FanGraphs.
The Red Sox pitchers and catchers reported on Tuesday, February 11th and had their 1st workout on Wednesday, February 12th. The full squad is due to report on Sunday, February 16th with the 1st full workout on Monday, February 17th. The 1st Spring Training Game against a major league team is Saturday, February 22nd, against the Tampa Bay Rays at 1 p.m..
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