Alex Avila
Encyclopedia
Alexander Thomas Avila is an American professional baseball
catcher
with the Detroit Tigers
of Major League Baseball
. He is 5' 11" tall and weighs 210 pounds. Avila was born in Hialeah, Florida
.
. He was drafted by the Detroit Tigers
in the 34th round of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft
, but chose to attend the University of Alabama
where he was an All-SEC
selection. Following his junior year in which he hit .343 with 17 home runs
and 62 RBI, he was then drafted by the Tigers in the fifth round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft
.
Avila also played in the Cape Cod League following his sophomore year in 2007.
where he had two hits scoring a run and batting one in. He started the following night, August 7, and in his first at bat of the game he hit his first career home run off pitcher Anthony Swarzak
. He finished the 2009 season playing in just 29 games, with a .279 batting average, 5 home runs, and 14 runs batted in.
. Baseball America
ranked Avila as the sixth best prospect in Detroit Tigers organization entering the 2010 season. Avila was the catcher for Armando Galarraga's near-perfect game
on June 2, 2010. In part-time duty, he finished the season with a .228 average and 7 home runs in 294 at-bats, while throwing out 32% of potential base-stealers.
, beating out New York Yankees
catcher Russell Martin
who had led through the majority of the voting. Alex also caught Justin Verlander
's no hitter on May 7, 2011 against the Toronto Blue Jays
His season stats included a .295 batting average, with 19 home runs, and 82 runs batted in.
Avila won the 2011 Silver Slugger Award for the American League as a catcher.
for a time in Warren, Michigan
.
His cousin, Nick Avila, was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 37th round of the 2011 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft.
His younger brother, Alan Avila, was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in 2008 in the 47th round, however chose to bypass the MLB to play baseball at Nova Southeastern University.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
with the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
of Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. He is 5' 11" tall and weighs 210 pounds. Avila was born in Hialeah, Florida
Hialeah, Florida
Hialeah is a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 226,419. As of 2009, the population estimate by the U. S...
.
Early Baseball Career
Avila played prep baseball at Archbishop McCarthy High School in Fort Lauderdale, FloridaFort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale is a city in the U.S. state of Florida, on the Atlantic coast. It is the county seat of Broward County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 165,521. It is a principal city of the South Florida metropolitan area, which was home to 5,564,635 people at the 2010...
. He was drafted by the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
in the 34th round of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft
2005 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2005 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 7 and 8. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams...
, but chose to attend the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
where he was an All-SEC
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
selection. Following his junior year in which he hit .343 with 17 home runs
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
and 62 RBI, he was then drafted by the Tigers in the fifth round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft
2008 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2008 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft continued Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, and was held on June 5 and 6, 2008.-First round selections:* Did not sign...
.
Avila also played in the Cape Cod League following his sophomore year in 2007.
2009
On August 6, 2009, Avila made his major league debut for the Tigers against the Baltimore OriolesBaltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
where he had two hits scoring a run and batting one in. He started the following night, August 7, and in his first at bat of the game he hit his first career home run off pitcher Anthony Swarzak
Anthony Swarzak
Anthony Ray Swarzak is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Minnesota Twins. The 6'4", 225 lb. right-hander was the Twins' second-round pick in the June draft.-Career:...
. He finished the 2009 season playing in just 29 games, with a .279 batting average, 5 home runs, and 14 runs batted in.
2010
Avila entered the 2010 season as a member of the Tigers major league roster, and shared playing time with starting catcher Gerald LairdGerald Laird
Gerald Lee Laird III is an American professional baseball catcher for the Detroit Tigers. He graduated La Quinta High School in 1998, and played college baseball at Cypress College...
. Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
ranked Avila as the sixth best prospect in Detroit Tigers organization entering the 2010 season. Avila was the catcher for Armando Galarraga's near-perfect game
Armando Galarraga's near-perfect game
In an American League baseball game played on June 2, 2010 at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan, Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga nearly became the 21st pitcher in Major League history to throw a perfect game...
on June 2, 2010. In part-time duty, he finished the season with a .228 average and 7 home runs in 294 at-bats, while throwing out 32% of potential base-stealers.
2011
Avila was named the Tigers starting catcher for the 2011 season, and showed considerable improvement. On July 3, 2011, he was selected to his first all-star team as the starting catcher for the American LeagueAmerican League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
, beating out New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
catcher Russell Martin
Russell Martin
Russell Nathan Jeanson Coltrane Martin, Jr is a Canadian Major League Baseball catcher for the New York Yankees.Martin became the everyday catcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers immediately upon his Major League debut, and continued in that role for nearly 5 years...
who had led through the majority of the voting. Alex also caught Justin Verlander
Justin Verlander
Justin Brooks Verlander is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball....
's no hitter on May 7, 2011 against the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
His season stats included a .295 batting average, with 19 home runs, and 82 runs batted in.
Avila won the 2011 Silver Slugger Award for the American League as a catcher.
Personal
Avila also attended De La Salle Collegiate High SchoolDe La Salle Collegiate High School
De La Salle Collegiate High School is an all-boys Catholic high school run by the De La Salle Christian Brothers. Founded in 1926, the school was located on the east side of Detroit before moving to its current location in Warren, Michigan in 1982. The school is dedicated to the Catholic education...
for a time in Warren, Michigan
Warren, Michigan
Warren is a city in Macomb County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The 2010 census places the city's population at 134,056, making Warren the largest city in Macomb County, the third largest city in Michigan, and Metro Detroit's largest suburb....
.
His cousin, Nick Avila, was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 37th round of the 2011 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft.
His younger brother, Alan Avila, was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in 2008 in the 47th round, however chose to bypass the MLB to play baseball at Nova Southeastern University.