Top 5: 2015 Center Fielders In AL East

Oct 2, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays center fielder

(11) is congratulated by left fielder

(7) as he scores during the sixth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

2) Kevin Pillar – Toronto Blue Jays

Bio: 26 y/o, 6’0″, 205 lbs, bats right, & throws right

MLB Years: 3

Games Played in 2015: 158 (141 as CF)

Offense:

• .278 batting average
• .314 on-base percentage
• .400 slugging percentage
• 12 home runs & 56 RBIs
• 28 walks to 83 strikeouts
• 25 stolen bases in 29 attempts

Defense:

• 2.91 range factor
• .995 fielding percentage
• 2 errors, 7 assists, & 403 putouts in 412 opportunities

‘It’ Factor: Superman has come to Toronto, and he found his bat.

Pillar has been a human highlight reel, defensively. His aerial acrobatics in center field are all over the sports news channels almost every night. Pillar’s success has given him the confidence to dive for any ball coming vaguely in his direction. However, Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and his fractured shoulder blade would have liked his range factor to be a tad shorter, as their collision kept him out of the lineup for several weeks.

Offensively, he exceeds the first three men in almost every respective category. His bat may not be as powerful or hit as many home runs and RBIs as Jones’, but that’s not what has been required of him on his team. Pillar is tied for fourth on the Blue Jays for most runs scored, yet he’s also tied for sixth in RBIs, which is incredible considering how far down he is in the batting lineup. He produces and sets the table for the top of the order to drive him home. Think how vital that is for any team, to have a player producing that much no matter where you put him.

Pillar’s days of struggling at the plate are over and he’s only 26. Maturity combined with speed, a good eye at the plate, good power, and incredible defense puts his potential ahead of Kiermaier’s for the moment.