After 13 MLB seasons, Kevin Pillar is calling it a career.
The veteran outfielder announced the news on “Foul Territory” on Wednesday. Pillar noted he didn’t plan to play in 2025. But something changed during the offseason.
“I wanted to be 100% sure because of things I went through last year,” Pillar said. “I said it was going to be my last year and I got into the offseason and my mindset kinda changed. I talked to a lot of guys that are no longer playing anymore and they said it’s kinda near impossible to retire and come back, so I wanted to make sure that I was really done playing.”
The 36-year-old admitted he didn’t like the way 2024 ended with him while he was with the Los Angeles Angels. After he underwent thumb surgery and decided to at least attempt to play one more year.
“I went through the kinda tedious process of rehabbing it, got cleared to start playing catch and hitting and I was like, ‘You know what? If I don’t go back and try, I might have some regrets,’” Pillar said.
The Texas Rangers signed Pillar to a minor league deal and he appeared in 20 games for the 2023 World Series champions.
Pillar played in 30 games for the Boston Red Sox during the 2020 COVID-19-shortened season before he was traded to the Colorado Rockies.
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