Alex Avila facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Alex Avila |
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Avila with the Washington Nationals in 2021
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| Catcher | |||
| Born: January 29, 1987 Hialeah, Florida, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| August 6, 2009, for the Detroit Tigers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 3, 2021, for the Washington Nationals | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .233 | ||
| Home runs | 105 | ||
| Runs batted in | 397 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Alexander Thomas Avila (born January 29, 1987) is an American former professional baseball catcher. From 2009 to 2021, he played for several teams. These included the Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs, Arizona Diamondbacks, Minnesota Twins, and Washington Nationals. Alex is the son of Al Avila, who used to be the general manager for the Tigers.
Alex Avila was the main catcher for the Detroit Tigers when they won four straight American League Central Division titles. He also caught for pitchers Justin Verlander (in 2011) and Max Scherzer (in 2013) when they won the Cy Young Award. This award goes to the best pitcher in each league.
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Alex Avila's Baseball Journey
Alex Avila was sometimes called "The Titanium Catcher." This was because many fans thought he was often hit by foul tips (balls hit slightly off the bat). He had some issues with concussions during his career.
Starting Out in Baseball
Alex played baseball in high school at Archbishop McCarthy High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The Detroit Tigers first picked him in the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft. However, he decided to go to the University of Alabama instead. There, he was chosen for the All-SEC team.
In 2007, he played summer baseball for the Harwich Mariners. After his third year of college, where he hit very well, the Tigers drafted him again. This time, it was in the fifth round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft.
Playing in the Major Leagues
With the Detroit Tigers
First Games in 2009
On August 6, 2009, Alex Avila played his first game in the major leagues for the Tigers. He got two hits, scored a run, and helped another player score. The next night, he hit his first career home run. He played in 29 games that year, hitting for a .279 batting average. He also hit 5 home runs and had 14 runs batted in (RBIs).
Sharing Time in 2010
Avila was on the Tigers' team for Opening Day in 2010. He shared playing time with another catcher, Gerald Laird. Baseball America magazine said he was the sixth best young player in the Tigers' team. Alex was the catcher for Armando Galarraga's near-perfect game on June 2, 2010. He finished the season hitting .228 with 7 home runs. He also stopped 32% of players trying to steal bases.
All-Star Season in 2011
Alex became the Tigers' main catcher for the 2011 season and played much better. On July 3, 2011, fans voted him to be the starting catcher for the American League All-Star team. He also caught Justin Verlander's no-hitter game on May 7, 2011. His stats for the season were impressive: a .295 batting average, 19 home runs, and 82 RBIs.
Avila also won the 2011 Silver Slugger Award for catchers in the American League. This award goes to the best offensive player at each position. He was the 10th Tigers catcher to win this award.
Ups and Downs in 2012
After his great 2011 season, 2012 was a bit harder for Alex. He had some injuries that affected his hitting. His batting average dropped to .243, with 9 home runs and 48 RBIs. He was good at stopping base stealers but also had the most passed balls (when the catcher misses a pitch) in the American League.
Strong Finish in 2013
Alex had a tough start to 2013 and spent some time off the field due to injury. By June, his batting average was only .172. However, he played much better in the second half of the season. He hit .281 in the last three months, including .343 in September.
On July 30, 2013, Alex hit his first grand slam (a home run with the bases loaded). He also hit a game-winning home run in August against the Cleveland Indians. He finished the season hitting .227 with 11 home runs and 47 RBIs.
Defense Shines in 2014
On January 31, 2014, Alex signed a new contract with the Tigers. His hitting struggles continued, and he hit a career-low .218. He also struck out 151 times, which was a career high. However, he was excellent defensively. He was a finalist for the 2014 Gold Glove Award, which goes to the best defensive player. He only allowed 3 passed balls and stopped 34% of base stealers.
Injuries and Free Agency in 2015
The 2015 season was difficult for Alex. He struggled with hitting (.191 average) and lost his starting catcher job to James McCann. He also had a knee injury that kept him out of some games. After the 2015 season, Alex became a free agent, meaning he could sign with any team. His father, Al Avila, who was now the Tigers' general manager, decided not to try and sign him again.
Chicago White Sox
On November 25, 2015, Alex signed a one-year contract with the Chicago White Sox. Injuries again limited his playing time. He played only 57 games in 2016, hitting .213 with 7 home runs.
Second Time with the Detroit Tigers
On December 23, 2016, Alex signed another one-year contract to return to the Detroit Tigers. On April 6, 2017, he hit an RBI double against his old team, the Chicago White Sox.
Chicago Cubs
On July 31, 2017, Alex Avila and pitcher Justin Wilson were traded to the Chicago Cubs. In 112 games combined with the Tigers and Cubs in 2017, Alex hit .264 with 14 home runs and 49 RBIs.
Arizona Diamondbacks
On January 31, 2018, Alex signed a two-year contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. In 2019, he batted .207 with 9 home runs and 24 RBIs for Arizona.
Minnesota Twins
On December 10, 2019, Alex signed a one-year contract with the Minnesota Twins. In the shorter 2020 season, he played 23 games, hitting .184 with 1 home run and 2 RBIs.
Washington Nationals
On January 28, 2021, Alex signed with the Washington Nationals. On September 19, 2021, Alex Avila announced that he was retiring from baseball after a 13-year career in Major League Baseball.
Alex Avila's Family Life
Alex Avila is a first-generation Cuban American. His mother is Yamile Avila, and his father is Al Avila, who was a top executive for the Detroit Tigers. Alex's godfather was Tommy Lasorda, a famous former manager for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Tommy was a friend of Alex's father and grandfather.
When his father Al became a vice president for the Tigers, Alex was in high school. His family moved to Michigan, and Alex went to De La Salle Collegiate High School for a year. He then moved back to Florida for his last two years of high school.
Alex's cousin, Nick Avila, was also drafted by the Detroit Tigers in 2011. Nick is now a coach for a Tigers minor league team. His younger brother, Alan Avila, was also drafted by the Tigers in 2008. Alan chose to play college baseball instead and now works for the Tigers in their baseball operations department.
Alex is married to Kristina Avila, whom he met in high school. They have two daughters named Avery Noelle (born in 2013) and Zoey Gabrielle (born in 2015).
