Kevin Pillar shines again in MLBx, but Braves alumni legend Julio Franco turns heads at Truist Park

At Truist Park on Saturday, the Braves’ MLBx experience delivered what fans often want from modern baseball events: action you can watch and remember immediately. The day also came with a twist from Atlanta’s past, as Braves alumni competed in a “new-age” home-run-hitting contest that combined team-focused elements with defensive components, turning the event into more than just a simple power showcase.

Kevin Pillar was a prominent name in the competition, and MLB’s Braves coverage framed his outing as a continuation of his success in MLBx. Pillar’s impact mattered because the event is designed to put familiar MLB skills into a fan-friendly format, and his ability to translate that to the contest setting helped keep Atlanta’s current chapter front and center.

Then, as the day progressed, Julio Franco’s presence became the story. The MLB release highlighted the moment of surprise as Franco, described as soon-to-be 68, stole the show in the Braves alumni competition. The coverage captured the idea that while the event featured contemporary, game-like challenges, Franco still had the offensive instinct to make every at-bat feel like a highlight.

The Braves-alumni contest itself was structured around home-run hitting, but it added “team and defensive elements,” according to the league’s account. That matters because it reframes what the audience expects from a home-run derby-style event. Instead of focusing solely on distance and swing speed, the contest required an extra layer of awareness tied to the game environment, including a defensive component that separated the day’s entertainment from a pure slugging measurement.

Franco’s age stood out in the recap, and it also functioned as a broader reminder of what durability and craft can look like after decades in the majors. The Braves’ organization has repeatedly leaned into alumni as a way to connect generations of fans to the franchise’s identity, and in this instance, Franco’s performance served as a living bridge between that history and the event’s new-school presentation.

MLB’s Braves page also included an on-site reaction that underscored the contrast between the novelty of MLBx and the old-school credibility that alumni can bring. The line, “Julio needs to be studied in a lab,” reflected how the crowd responded to the idea that Franco’s results did not feel limited by time.

For what to watch next, the most immediate takeaway is how MLBx continues to attract both present-day players and franchise legends into the same spotlight. Pillar’s success suggests current players can adapt to the event’s format, while Franco’s standout moment suggests Atlanta’s alumni weekend can still alter the tone of the day, regardless of how “new-age” the competition is designed to feel.

The event’s long-term value will depend on whether MLB keeps expanding these hybrids of offense and defense in a way that players and fans actually recognize as skill-based. Saturday’s showcase, anchored by Pillar’s MLBx momentum and Franco’s late-career impact at age 67, provided a clear snapshot of that direction at Truist Park.