Kevin Pillar riding offensive surge

This story was excerpted from Rhett Bollinger’s Angels Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

ANAHEIM — Not even Kevin Pillar could’ve imagined the way his start with the Angels has gone so far.

After mostly scuffling through a part-time role with the last-place White Sox, hitting .160 in 17 games, he was designated for assignment on April 26 and returned home to Arizona. He became a free agent April 30 and just by coincidence, the Angels were in desperate need of a veteran outfielder after Mike Trout was surprisingly diagnosed with a torn meniscus in his left knee.

Pillar received a call from the Angels that morning and was in Anaheim later that afternoon to join the team. His start was inauspicious, going 1-for-6 through his first three games with the club, including two pinch-hit appearances. But he broke out on May 7, hitting two homers and driving in six runs in Pittsburgh, and hasn’t looked back.

The 12-year veteran has provided a major spark for the Angels, batting .419 (26-for-62) with five homers, three doubles, four stolen bases and 21 RBIs in 18 games. His 21 RBIs through 18 games is the second-highest total in team history for a player’s first 18 games with the club behind only Joe Rudi’s 26 in 1977. And with his RBI double on Thursday, he set a new career high with a 12-game hitting streak.

“I would be lying if I wasn’t a little bit surprised but this game is crazy,” Pillar said. “Just my journey to get here. Being with the White Sox, being released [in late March] and signing back. And then not playing much and getting released again and being home a few days. But I just told myself that if I was going to get another opportunity, first and foremost, I’m going to enjoy it.”

In joining the Angels, Pillar was reunited with plenty of familiar faces, as he played on the Braves last season when manager Ron Washington was a coach along with Eric Young Sr. He was also a longtime teammate of infield coach Ryan Goins during their time in Toronto, while broadcaster Mark Gubicza was one of his coaches at Chaminade College Preparatory in West Hills, Calif.

They all see Pillar as the consummate teammate who beat the odds to reach the Majors as a 32nd-round pick in the 2011 Draft out of Cal State Dominguez Hills. He’s continued to rack up milestones along the way, including getting his 1,000th hit and scoring his 500th run on May 19 at Texas, and getting his 100th career stolen base on May 15. He’s also nearing reaching 10 years of service time, which is a huge benchmark for players because of the pension benefits that come with it.

“There were things that I set out to accomplish individually and I’ve been able to do most of those, but I think a lot of the success just comes from coming into a place where people believe in you,” Pillar said. “They’re confident in you and you’re here for a reason. But today’s success doesn’t mean success tomorrow, so I have to continue to work and believe in my abilities.”

Pillar’s impact can also be found in the clubhouse, as he’s served as a mentor to younger outfielders such as Jo Adell and Mickey Moniak. Pillar is far from shy and said he’s constantly talking with his teammates before and after games to help them to continue to learn.

“KP has been awesome, just having him around and especially the small parts of the game,” Adell said. “Our team is pretty young and we’re trying to put it together. It’s really good to have that presence in the clubhouse, and obviously he’s playing incredible.”

Despite his otherworldly start offensively, the Angels have utilized Pillar in more of a platoon role, starting him mostly against left-handers. Pillar hasn’t been an everyday player in nearly three years, and they don’t want to overplay him despite his hot bat. They also are mindful of the development of Adell and Moniak, who both need consistent at-bats this year.

“We need to try to get Moniak going,” Washington said. “Pillar knows he’s not going to be on the field every day. But I’m not going to let him get to the point where he’s stale, to the point where he loses what he had. But there will be times where he has a good night and he’s not playing the next day.”

Pillar understands his role and is simply embracing what could be his final season in the Majors. There’s still the possibility he could be a potential trade candidate, but for now, he’s riding the wave and enjoying it as much as he can.