"Kevin Pillar, OF, Toronto Blue Jays (Double-A New Hampshire)
When a player signs for $1,000 as a 32nd round pick, it is unlikely that expectations will be all that high. That was true of Pillar after signing out of Cal State Dominguez Hills in 2011 but he is doing his best to elevate expectations after reaching Double-A in just his second full season of pro ball. Pillar’s tools aren’t flashy but what he does well – hit, and hit a lot – could carry him to the big leagues. After sitting on him for three games last week, I found Pillar’s ability to get the barrel to the ball to be truly impressive. His quiet load and solid bat speed allow him to make easy contact on a variety of pitches and he uses the whole field very well. He doesn’t have a ton of power but he can drive the ball from gap to gap and pick up some extra-base hits. While I expected Pillar to hit last week, his defense was quite surprising. Tasked with manning center field, he managed quality jumps and consistently took proper routes to the ball. He moved well to both sides and his aptitude for going back on the ball was impressive. Pillar is just an average runner and center field may not be part of his long-term profile, but the versatility afforded through an ability to handle the position occasionally will give him a better chance of succeeding as a major-league fourth outfielder. –Mark Anderson"
From BP Monday morning 10 pack