In case you missed it, the Chicago Cubs swept the Toronto Blue Jays at Wrigley Field yesterday afternoon, in what was ultimately a wild ten inning display (two dropped third strikes led to the game-tying and winning runs for the Cubs, and between the two teams, FIVE runs were scored in the last frame of the day).
But one of the main reasons that game even made it to extra innings, was because Kevin Pillar absolutely ROBBED Kris Bryant of extra bases with the game tied and just one out in the bottom of the seventh inning.
You can watch the full version of the play here at MLB.com, or check it out below:
Walls and gravity are no match for @KPILLAR4. #Pillarceny pic.twitter.com/LJ4MaJvtb5
— Blue Jays (@BlueJays) August 21, 2017
That’s Pillar crashing into a brick wall, lightly feathered with 100-year-old ivy, which is … not exactly a soft landing.
Seriously … ouch.
Proof that @KPILLAR4 would LITERALLY run through a wall for his team. #Unreal https://t.co/5vQF8wQmQD pic.twitter.com/bMeHw4tFPW
— Blue Jays (@BlueJays) August 20, 2017
But Pillar is one of the best defensive center fielders in the game, and the best defensive center fielders in the game are nothing if not fearless.
According to FanGraphs, Pillar (10.2 Def) has been the fourth most defensively valuable center fielder overall, after Odubel Herrera (10.8), Ender Inciarte (11.2), and Billy Hamilton (14.0). But by defensive runs saved, Pillar ranks second.