Kevin Pillar (OF, SF) - Week 15 Waiver Wire Pickups

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OWNED IN: 16% of leagues

ANALYSIS: Kevin Pillar is typically characterized as a guy who can produce power/speed figures at volume and play one of the meanest outfields in the game, but definitely has his weak spots at the plate. With 12 home runs, eight stolen bases (in nine tries), a .697 OPS, and handful of highlights on defense over 317 AB this year with the Blue Jays and Giants, that characterization would appear to check out. Maybe it has been the competition from guys like Mike Yastrzemski in San Francisco, but Pillar has looked rather refreshed since the beginning of June and has hit for six home runs, stolen two bases, and produced a .326/.354/.620 over his last 92 AB.

He isn't a powerful hitter by any means, he isn't as fast as you might expect at 27.9 feet per second in sprinting speed, and he rarely ever walks. That's not an encouraging string of facts, and even if you pepper in the fact that he plays for an offensively stagnant squad, "KP" has still been playing like a guy you want some sneaky stock in. He was at least able to lower his June strikeout rate to a meager 8.5%, and began making 40.4% hard contact with a 20.7% line drive rate.

When taking that into account with his cumulative 15.2-degree launch angle and 61.8% hard contact rate this season on line drives, it makes his rather conservative BABIP for June of .281 actually seem a bit unlucky. This makes Kevin Pillar an excellent candidate to continue to reach base via line drive, run the base-paths, and sprinkle in just enough slugging to sweeten the pot appropriately, while maintaining a hold on a healthy level of playing time with the help of his glove.