Kevin Pillar is excited about former Blue Jays teammate Teoscar Hernandez

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Kevin Pillar is five seasons and a whopping eight Major League Baseball teams removed from his time with the Blue Jays, but the veteran outfielder seems to still have a strong understanding of the Toronto fan base.

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And judging by his comments on Sportsnet’s World Series coverage, Pillar also has some opinions about the controversial exit of another popular Toronto outfielder.

In a postgame studio panel after Monday night’s third game of the series, Pillar had specific thoughts about his former teammate, Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez, who has been a big reason why LA has opened a 3-0 lead over the Yankees in the Fall Classic best of seven.

“It’s a shame when you have a guy like that in a place like this and (Blue Jays management) decides not to bring him back,” Pillar said after the Dodgers’ 4-2 win in the Bronx. “As a former teammate, I’m happy to see him succeed.

“He’s in a great place if he wants to win.”

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That much is clear as Hernandez has been a key contributor to a Dodgers team that won the National League West and is now one game away from sweeping the Yanks for the championship.

Pillar is likely well aware of the current situation with the Jays, the team that drafted him and where he played parts of seven major league seasons before being dealt to the San Francisco Giants early in the 2019 season. Pillar and Hernandez were teammates with the Jays from the time the latter was shipped to Toronto from Houston at the 2017 trade deadline until Pillar was traded to the Giants for a trio of players who never made an impact on the Jays.

Hernandez has been a big part of the Dodgers’ success, mostly with his bat. But on Monday, it was a stellar defensive play in the fourth inning that drew rave reviews. With his team leading 3-0, Hernandez played a ground ball into left field and then delivered a fly ball to throw out the Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton at the plate.

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“I think he’s a great player,” Pillar said of Hernandez. “Teoscar’s not just an incredible hitter (for) power, average, he’s a sneaky runner. He’s one of those five-tool players. He’s got an incredible arm. He’s got the ability to get it out there. “

Since leaving the Jays, Pillar has been a big leaguer, playing for the Giants, Red Sox, Rockies, Mets, Dodgers (for a brief four games) Braves, White Sox and most recently the Angels. Pillar, a free agent again, is in Toronto to work Games 3-5 of the World Series for Sportsnet, though that stint could be cut short if Hernandez and the Dodgers complete the sweep Tuesday night.

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