There are legendary try-hard players in Major League Baseball. They have careers that span years, constructed on grit, defense, and the willingness to play anywhere. One dashing journeyman outfielder, known for his highlight-reel catches, wore 10 MLB uniforms in a career extending a decade. Imagine him planting his cleats into an outfield wall to scale the wall and turn a home run for the other guy into an out. Above all, imagine that very player returning to the batter’s box a mere two weeks after a 95 mph fastball broke his nose. After 13 lengthy, hard-fought big-league seasons, that workhorse has finally decided to retire.

That well-traveled veteran is outfielder Kevin Pillar. He officially retired on Wednesday, July 2, 2025. Foul Territory TV was the first to report the news on social media. In a tweet, they shared the news, congratulating him on his successful run: BREAKING: Kevin Pillar announces his retirement after 13 years in the big leagues. Congratulations on a great career, @KPILLAR4!” The news signals the end of an era for one of the game’s most respected grinders.

Pillar’s last season ended after 20 games with the Texas Rangers this year. They released him in late May when he hit .209 with a .465 OPS. His career was a testament to persistence and longevity. He was known as “Superman” by fans for his acrobatic diving catches. That journey included pit stops with the Blue Jays, Giants, Red Sox, Rockies, Mets, Dodgers, Braves, White Sox, Angels, and Rangers. He finishes with a .255 career batting average with 114 home runs and 111 stolen bases and a .698 OPS to his name.

Pillar opened up on the decision in an emotionally candid Foul Territory interview. He acknowledged that he didn’t like the way his previous season ended, which required offseason thumb surgery. He also talked to other retired players about their final choice. “They said it’s near impossible to kind of retire and then come back,” Pillar explained. That advice stuck with him as he rehabbed his hand. Ultimately, one simple thought pushed him to return. “If I don’t go back and try, I might have some regrets.”

That final push with the Rangers, however brief, had given him the clarity he needed. “It was unfortunate that my season was cut short. I was DFA’d,” he shared. But that procedural move turned into an unlikely blessing: time at home. “Once you kind of get on the other side and you get a chance to be home and be dad… you realize how stressful being a Major League baseball player is.” That time served was all the distance he needed to make sure he was truly ready to move on to a life beyond the game.

His career, with its long and winding road, was a lesson in persistence. To understand his journey, you need to go right back to the beginning.

From 32nd-round pick to superman: The journey of a Kevin Pillar

Kevin Pillar’s journey is that of the underdog who refused to be overlooked. He had a fantastic career at Cal State Dominguez Hills, a Division II program, during which he established a 54-game hitting streak, still the record at the university. Unfortunately, he wasn’t a college prospect for MLB scouts, translating from college notoriety into the big leagues. Thus, the Toronto Blue Jays selected him in the 2011 draft with the 32nd pick—979th overall. This is a clear dis on him since he rose through the minor leagues quickly.

From 2013-2019, he was a Blue Jays icon. He earned the title of “Superman” in Toronto with his exceptional defensive efforts. A key component of the Blue Jays squad that advanced into postseason play during 2015 and 2016 in consecutive years. And in 2016, he was the best defensive center fielder in baseball. He led all center fielders with 21 Defensive Runs Saved and was nominated for a Gold Glove in recognition of his accomplishments.

Pillar was a journeyman, of sorts, after Toronto, playing for nine more teams. Without a doubt, his grittiest work came in 2021 for the New York Mets. He suffered multiple nasal fractures from taking a 95 miles per hour fastball to the face on May 17th. Incredibly, he was able to rejoin the lineup two weeks later.

His personal favorite season was with the 104-win Atlanta Braves in 2023. “I’ve never been happier playing baseball in my life,” he later said. “It was the most fun I ever had.” And now, looking ahead, he has found peace. He has acknowledged that he “took the failure in the game way harder than I enjoyed the success.”