SAN FRANCISCO — Kevin Pillar started the season with the Toronto Blue Jays.
He ended it as the San Francisco Giants’ most inspirational player.
Pillar, 30, was named the 2019 winner of the Willie Mac Award and received a plaque engraved with the words “Competitive Spirt, Ability and Leadership” to characterize the qualities Hall of Fame first baseman Willie McCovey exemplified.
The Giants center fielder has enjoyed a career year at the plate as he leads the club in games played, runs scored, RBIs and is tied for the team-lead in home runs, but contributions that showed up in the box score are hardly the reason Pillar secured the coveted honor.