Steve Webb
Vet looks good in Cactus League start
SURPRISE, AZ — Kevin Pillar wasted no time in making a good impression in Dodger camp. The Veteran outfielder whacked a no-doubter over the center field fence in his second Spring Training game on Saturday against the Kansas City Royals. It was his first hit of the Spring, but it certainly got people’s attention.
With a man on second base, he took a 1-1 pitch from reliever Arodys Vizcaino and deposited it onto the grassy lawn beyond the center field fence. Now, you don’t necessarily get a roster spot for hitting a Cactus League dinger off a minor league pitcher, but it does get the notice of the boss.
“Kevin’s a late arrival to camp,” manager Dave Roberts said after the game to SportsNet LA’s Kirsten Watson. “but he’s a veteran, professional ballplayer. He’s all in on the Dodgers, and for him go out there and hit a ball like that to right center field… he’s a pro. He can play all three in the outfield, and he takes good at-bats.”
Although Roberts was enthusiastic about Saturday’s game, he knew the lay of the land as well as anyone, and wasn’t exactly giving him a roster spot just yet. “He’s an asset,” Roberts acknowledged, “so we’ll see how it shakes out.”
