Gibbons suggests Pillar will lead off for Blue Jays
Kevin Pillar is getting his wish.
After telling reporters in February that he would relish the opportunity to fill the team's vacant leadoff role in 2016, Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons has all but confirmed that the center fielder will get the honor to begin the season.
"We haven't announced anything, but we've been pretty much running one guy," Gibbons told MLB.com's Gregor Chisholm. "I don't know if that means anything. ... That was sarcasm."
The "one guy" Gibbons is referring to is, of course, Pillar. The outfielder has batted leadoff in each of the 11 contests he's played in this spring, though he's only mustered a .233/.281/.367 slash line in the exhibition contests.
"He's hitting a lot better than what his numbers show," Gibbons said. "He's hitting the ball a heck of a lot better than that. I think his swing looks better, he has more balance at the plate, he's under control. I think he's going to have a huge year."
The rest of the team's batting order seems to be set, with reigning American League MVP Josh Donaldson in the two-spot followed by sluggers Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion. Gibbons feels Pillar's speed will mesh well with the long-ball prowess in the heart of Toronto's batting order, despite the 27-year-old's career four percent walk rate and .303 on-base percentage.
"He's aggressive, I don't want him going up there thinking about that," Gibbons said. "When you have Donaldson and Bautista hitting behind you, they're going to come after you so the walks from that end, in a lot of ways, are going to be limited. I think that plays into his hand.
"He's done it in the minor leagues, he has been very good at it ... and he creates havoc on the bases. He's the one guy, in our lineup, that can make some things happen on the bases, we don't have a lot of speed."
Pillar, meanwhile, isn't oblivious as to how pitchers might treat him at the top of the order.
"These guys aren't trying to walk me," he told Chisholm in February. "I think I need to get that on the table. We always talk about walks, yeah walks are going to happen, but I'm up there to hit. If I get a good pitch to hit, I'm not going to sit around and try to walk.
"But I promise you, if Josh is hitting behind me, I'll have better pitches to hit, and I'll be on base more."