Kevin Pillar kept a special ball from his 1,000th career hit, which meant more than just helping the Los Angeles Angels win against the reigning World Series champions.
Though Pillar is from California, his parents recently moved to Texas and were at the game on Sunday, even though their son wasn’t in the starting lineup against the Rangers.
“Baseball can be poetic. I’m here in Texas, my family lives here. My parents are here watching,” Pillar said after his pinch-hit two-run single in the seventh inning of a 4-1 win. “I told them I wasn’t starting. They still wanted to be here to support me and to see me get an opportunity. To come up in that situation with them here means everything to me.”
Pillar, 35, joined the young Los Angeles team about three weeks ago. It’s his ninth big league team in 12 seasons.
He signed with the Angels on April 30, the same day the Angels put three-time AL MVP Mike Trout on the injured list due to a torn meniscus in his left knee that needed surgery.
Pillar’s wife and kids were at home in Arizona on Sunday, but he had already shared a special moment with them over the phone.
“They’re pretty excited right now. They’re really happy,” he said. “It’s great to hear your kids say they’re proud.”
Pillar has been batting .447 with three homers and 16 RBIs in 12 games for the Angels. He started this season with the Chicago White Sox, who released him during spring training and then re-signed him, but they designated him for assignment after he batted .160 with one homer and four RBIs in 17 games.
