Kevin Pillar admits he wasn't a fan of Toronto Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins at first

Former Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Kevin Pillar has plenty of respect for Ross Atkins, but that wasn't always the case.

Atkins, who officially became the general manager of the Blue Jays on Dec. 3, 2015, was public-enemy number one amongst many Toronto fans for several years, with many pleading for him to be fired. That all changed this past season thanks to the Jays' historic World Series run.

The Jays' recent success hasn't just changed opinions amongst Blue Jays fans, either. 

Pillar, who was a part of the loaded 2015 and 2016 Blue Jays rosters, was not a fan of Atkins when he came in. Like much of the fan base, he originally felt the 52-year-old blew up that roster too quick in order to go through a rebuild.

"Speaking of criticism and critics, I was one of his biggest critics," Pillar said on Blue Bird Territory. "For a long time, I did not like Ross Atkins for multiple reasons.

"Shortly after that [2016 run], they started getting rid of my friends and my teammates and something that we felt like we had built that we wanted another opportunity to kind of do it again. He had this long-term vision that at the time I didn't see, at the time I didn't agree with."

Pillar's dislike of Atkins only grew further after the now-retired centre fielder was traded to the San Francisco Giants early into the 2019 season.

"He traded me, and I hated him for that. I thought I would never move on from that and forgive him. It took me a long time, it really did. That was a wound that was open that was really hard to close."

As the saying goes, time heals all wounds, and, at least in Pillar's case, that seems to hold true. He now commends Atkins on the team he has been able to build today, thanks to some difficult past decisions.

"Credit to him, he had this vision that not a lot of people saw. He knew he had the Vlads, the Bos, the Cavans, some of this young talent waiting, and he knew that if they all kind of pushed together at the same time, that it was going to work out."

"I was one of his biggest critics. For a long time I did not like Ross Atkins."@KPILLAR4 details his feelings on Atkins and how those feelings have changed now. pic.twitter.com/DpZvGRZl5B

— Blue Bird Territory (@BlueBirdTerr) March 24, 2026

The Blue Jays turned things around in dramatic fashion in 2025, finishing with an AL-best record of 94-68. Though some are hesitant about whether they can repeat last year's success, they were able to add some big pieces in free agency, including, but not limited to, starting pitchers Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce.