Former Red Sox Outfielder Announces Retirement After 13 MLB Seasons

A well-traveled MLB player is officially hanging up his cleats.

Kevin Pillar announced his retirement on Wednesday’s “Foul Territory.” The outfielder played for 10 different teams over 13 seasons, including a brief stint with the Boston Red Sox in 2020.

Pillar said that he thought 2024 would be his final year, but he didn’t want a season-ending thumb surgery to conclude his career. He signed a minor-league contract with the Texas Rangers, who released the 36-year-old in late May.

Pillar spent his first six seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays, where he batted .260 with 111 stolen bases in 695 games. He hit a career-high 21 home runs for the San Francisco Giants in 2019.

Boston signed Pillar to a one-year contract before the 2020 season. The former 32nd-round pick hit .274/.325/.470 with four home runs in 30 games before the Red Sox traded him to the Colorado Rockies.

After Toronto, Pillar never spent more than one season with the same organization. He switched teams nine times (including three in-season moves) from 2019 onward.

Pillar made the Rangers roster to start the 2025 season, but he went 9-for-43 with no home runs or walks. They designated Pillar for assignment and cut him after he cleared waivers.

The last month away helped Pillar realize the relief of removing baseball-induced stressors and creating more time to focus on his family and other interests.

“Those things always out-weighted the success I had in the game. I took the failure in the game way harder than I enjoyed the success,” Pillar said. “I don’t have to deal with the failure anymore, so I’m pretty happy. I wake up every morning excited to be Dad and just see what the day brings.”