{"id":263670,"date":"2021-06-01T09:29:11","date_gmt":"2021-06-01T06:29:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/kevin-pillars-return-to-mets-adds-to-cult-hero-status\/"},"modified":"2021-06-01T09:29:11","modified_gmt":"2021-06-01T06:29:11","slug":"kevin-pillars-return-to-mets-adds-to-cult-hero-status","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/kevin-pillars-return-to-mets-adds-to-cult-hero-status\/","title":{"rendered":"#Kevin Pillar’s return to Mets adds to ‘cult hero’ status"},"content":{"rendered":"

“#Kevin Pillar’s return to Mets adds to ‘cult hero’ status<\/strong>”<\/p>\n

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PHOENIX \u2014 Pete Alonso\u2019s thunder and Jacob deGrom\u2019s dominance were at the forefront Monday, but another Mets contribution perhaps loomed larger in the big picture.<\/p>\n

Kevin Pillar, activated before the game<\/a>, delivered an eighth-inning single in his first plate app<\/a>earance off the injured list. Pillar had earlier entered the game as a defensive replacement in left field for Dominic Smith.<\/p>\n

Pillar\u2019s return came two weeks after he was drilled in the face by a 95-mph fastball from Atlanta\u2019s Jacob Webb. Pillar underwent subsequent surgery for a broken nose.<\/p>\n

If there was any question whether Pillar would be reflexively shy about hitting, they may have been answered by his single against Ryan Buchter.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe thing that really stands out is Kevin Pillar, the dude is just a warrior,\u201d Alonso said after blasting a homer and driving in four runs to lead the Mets to a 6-2 victory over the Diamondbacks. \u201cHis attitude and how he approaches the game is just really special.<\/p>\n

\u201cTonight was a really cool night and I am happy for Kevin and to be able to dig in there and get that knock and get that monkey off his shoulder, he\u2019s got stones and he\u2019s got a really tough, gritty attitude.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Kevin
Kevin Pillar singled in his return to the Mets on Monday.<\/figcaption>
AP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

DeGrom, who pitched six scoreless innings, also saluted Pillar.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe way he plays the game and how hard he plays and how much he wants to be out there, I have a tremendous respect for him,\u201d deGrom said. \u201cIt was terrible when he got hit \u2026 for him to come up and get a hit that first time, everybody was pumped for him and it couldn\u2019t have happened to a better guy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pillar said the expectation is the Mets will consider him for the starting lineup as soon as Wednesday. A compromise was reached between him and the club that placed him on the roster Monday with the understanding he would ramp up baseball activity before rejoining the starting lineup.<\/p>\n