Pillar is the 109th former Northwoods League Player to debut in MLB
Rochester, MN – Former Wisconsin Woodchuck Kevin Pillar was called up by the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday, August 14. Pillar is the 109th former Northwoods League player to reach the Major League level.
Pillar, who played collegiately at Cal State Dominguez Hills, played for the Wisconsin Woodchucks during the 2010 season, and was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 32nd round of the 2011 MLB draft.
During the 2010 season with the Woodchucks Pillar hit .282 in 69 games. Pillar was 4th in the league with 47 runs scored and 4th in the league with 79 hits. He also hit 3 home runs and drove in 28 RBI while stealing 24 bases.
Pillar began his minor league career in 2011 with Bluefield in the Appalachian League and hit .347 in 60 games. He hit 7 home runs and had 37 RBI to go along with 17 doubles and 8 stolen bases.
In 2012 Pillar spent time at low A Lansing in the Midwest League and in hi A with Dunedin in the Florida State League. He hit a combined .323 in 128 games and stole 51 bases.
During the 2013 season Pillar was in AA with New Hampshire in the Eastern League before being promoted to AAA Buffalo in the International League. Pillar was hitting a combined .307 with 23 stolen bases between the two teams.
In his Major League debut on Wednesday night Pillar started in left field for the Blue Jays.
The Northwoods League has more teams, plays more games, and draws more fans than any other Summer Collegiate League in North America. The 2013 season marks the 20th season of Northwoods League baseball. 109 former players have gone on to play Major League baseball. Notable alumni of the league include Curtis Granderson (Yankees), Chris Sale (White Sox), Max Scherzer (Tigers), Josh Willingham (Twins) and Jordan Zimmermann (Nationals).
