Pillar embracing new mentality: 'Stay ready'

Look at Kevin Pillar’s career, and the thing that stands out most -- aside from the highlight-reel catches -- is his durability. The outfielder has always been a guy who went to the post just about every day.

From 2015-19, he averaged 606 plate appearances per season.

But Pillar knew that life would be different after an offseason in which he was non-tendered by the Giants and then signed by the Red Sox at the beginning of Spring Training.

In 2020, Pillar’s job is to start against left-handed pitchers. It was fair to wonder how he would make the adjustment.

He has answered the question in a resoundingly positive manner, standing out for the Red Sox amid their disappointing start.

On Wednesday, as manager Ron Roenicke sat two of his slumping starting outfielders (Andrew Benintendi and Jackie Bradley Jr., who entered as a defensive replacement in the eighth but did not bat) against Rays lefty Ryan Yarbrough, Pillar (.342/.359/.526) was in the leadoff spot and playing center field. It was Pillar’s eighth start in 12 games -- seven of them coming against lefties. He went 0-for-5, but the Sox prevailed, 5-0.

“The Red Sox organization was very open and honest with me what my role was going to be. I accepted that role,” said Pillar. “I also told them I’m accepting that role, but it’s not going to stop me from continuing to work to fight for at-bats and fight for opportunities to play.

“The one thing I promised myself, especially after the quarantine, coming back into Summer Camp knowing the health status of [Alex] Verdugo, was that I wasn’t going to get caught up into when I was going to play, if I was going to play, if I performed and other people didn’t perform, why am I not playing.

“For me, it’s just allowing things to kind of develop, which is how it’s been in my career. I try not put a whole lot of stuff into it and try and stay ready when my opportunity comes.”

The competitor in Pillar tells him he is still an everyday player, and that mentality helps him thrive when he gets onto the field. But the marketplace in the offseason let him know that his career could be headed in a different direction, and it was up to him to make the most of it.

“In the offseason, I learned a lot about myself,” Pillar said. “I learned a lot about my value as a player. Even though I don’t allow that to stop me from continuing to get better and continuing to try and push the envelope and try to continue to be the player I think and know I can be.”

Though it was jarring initially for Pillar to be let go by the Giants, he thinks the move to the Red Sox has much to do with his hot start.

“I don’t want to get into the specifics of what I did learn, but I knew that there were some changes I needed to make,” Pillar said. “It was a big focus of mine going into Spring Training. Fortunately, I was able to get with some very good hitting coaches, work on some mechanical stuff. But really it was about fine-tuning my approach.

“I think that’s been a blessing in disguise. Being here, how professional the at-bats are that these guys take and how in-tune they are with the pitcher throwing that day and having a set game plan, it’s allowed me to have a little more freedom at the plate. And ultimately stay in the strike zone a little bit more.”

Benintendi could be ‘close’ to breakout
It’s hard to imagine that Benintendi was going to get off to a 2-for-29 start in which one of the hits was a bunt single. But it’s happened, and all the outfielder can do now is move on and find a way out of the rut.

The one silver lining in all the lefties the Red Sox have faced lately is that Benintendi has been able to spend those days he isn’t in the lineup working in the cage. Roenicke thinks he is close to unlocking some things that will allow him to thrive again.

“He’s a guy that wants to work and get it right, and he’s a perfectionist, so when he doesn’t like something, he’s working extra, which he’s been doing the last week with [hitting coaches] Pete [Fatse] and Tim [Hyers], and they like what he’s doing.

“They like the progress. They think he’s close. I think he’s close. I think he’s been taking good swings. I think he’s seeing the ball better. He does continue to walk to get on base for us, and if he does that and then starts hitting, he’s going to be a really important part leading off that team.”

Febles: From inconclusive to negative
As a precaution, third-base coach Carlos Febles didn’t fly to Florida with the Red Sox after he had an inconclusive result from a COVID-19 test taken in New York over the weekend.

Roenicke had good news on that front on Wednesday.

“Carlos Febles, he got a negative result back today. He should have another result coming back tomorrow morning, and so he should be fine to join us when we get home,” said Roenicke.

Ramon Vazquez will coach third again at Tropicana Field on Wednesday. The Red Sox are off on Thursday, and Febles should be back in the box on Friday night at home against the Blue Jays.