NEW YORK – Kevin Pillar is headed for the Big Apple.
 
The former Cal State Dominguez Hills standout centerfielder signed a one-year deal with the New York Mets Monday evening. It will be Pillar's fifth team in five years, having started the first seven seasons of his major league career in Toronto followed by playing for San Francisco, Boston and Colorado.
 
Pillar played 54 of 60 scheduled games in a shortened 2020 season between the Red Sox and Rockies. He slashed a .288 batting average with six home runs and 26 RBIs. His reputation though is with his glove. Nicknamed 'Superman' for his remarkable catches in the outfield, Pillar boasts a .990 fielding percentage with 45 assists.

Here is one notable highlight reel when he was with the San Francisco Giants in 2019, which resulted a inning-ending double-play to prevent a run from scoring.
   
A native of West Hills, Pillar played for the Toros from 2008-11. He was selected to three All-California Collegiate Athletic Association teams and was named an All-America honorable mention in 2010, the same year he set the NCAA Division II record in hitting streak at 54 games. He was drafted by the Blue Jays in the 32nd round of the 2011 MLB Amatuer Draft and made his major league debut in 2013.
 
The Mets are coming off a 26-34 record in 2020 for a fourth-place finish in the National League East under first-year manager Luis Rojas.
 
Pillar and the rest of the position players will be joining the pitchers and catchers at spring training camp in Port St. Lucie, Florida on Monday. The first of 24 scheduled exhibition games begin March 1 while Opening Day for the Mets is April 1 at Washington.