It was no secret Kevin Pillar didn’t want to leave San Francisco after his career year in 2019. Yet there he was Wednesday, back in Oracle Park, with a chance with two men on in the top of the 12th against his former team.
Two innings earlier, Lamonte Wade Jr. robbed Pillar of a game-changing extra base hit. This time, Pillar didn’t give him a chance. The former Giant’s three-run blast put the Mets on top for good in their 6-2 victory over San Francisco.
“I’ve got nothing but love for this organization,” Pillar told reporters postgame. “The players over there, the city of San Francisco, embraced me at probably the most difficult time of my career.”
“The players over there, the city of San Francisco, this organization embraced me at probably the most difficult time in my career – being traded for the first time, leaving everything that I knew back in Toronto.”
Kevin Pillar had nothing but love for San Francisco pic.twitter.com/b1FsodG5wS
— KNBR (@KNBR) August 19, 2021
Pillar wasn’t in the Bay long, but he made quite an impact. In 156 games, he hit .264 with a .735 OPS, the latter the best of his career up until that point. He earned the Willie Mac Award, presented annually to the most inspirational player on the ball club.
And he hoped to remain a Giant. The trade from Toronto uprooted his family, but he appreciated the Bay — and vice versa. The veteran centerfielder told KNBR in 2019 he loved being on the West Coast and was happy in the Bay.
Now he’s on his third team since the 2019 campaign. Still, Pillar said it felt a little different crushing the 12th inning bomb against the Giants.
“Definitely a good moment for me to be able to go out there and remind the guys what kind of year I did have for them in 2019,” Pillar said.