For a moment, many thought that Mets outfielder Kevin Pillar was using a blood-spattered bat when he stepped to the plate against the Orioles.
It's easy to see why. After all, his bat did have a rather red hue to it. Or it at least appeared to on the broadcast.
Did @KPILLAR4 really go yard TWICE last night using the bat from when he got drilled in the face?? #LGM pic.twitter.com/gq66eNa0gv
— We Gotta Believe Podcast (@GottaBelievePod) June 10, 2021
Pillar was hit in the face by a 94 mph pitch less than a month ago. He suffered a broken nose on the play and was bleeding profusely. So, that's where speculation about the substance on his bat originally came from.
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However, as legendary a move as using a bloodied bat would have been, Pillar confirmed that his bat contained no blood. It was just pine tar.
I appreciate the compliment but have to confirm that it is not true. Just pine tar stick https://t.co/DTEVZmgZIZ
— Kevin Pillar (@KPILLAR4) June 10, 2021
Oh, well. At least it captured the imagination of Mets fans for a little while.
And it doesn't take away from Pillar's amazing comeback. Even after suffering multiple nasal fractures, Pillar missed only two weeks of action.
Since returning, Pillar is hitting .296 for the first-place Mets and has clubbed two home runs in eight games played. Safe to say that he has shown no fear in the batter's box since the brutal injury.
