Player Page

Weather | Roster

Alex Avila | Catcher

Team: Detroit Tigers
Age / DOB:  (26) / 1/29/1987
Ht / Wt:  5'11' / 210
Bats / Throws: Left / Right
Contract: view contract details
Share: 

Latest News

Recent News

Alex Avila is not in Wednesday's lineup against the Astros.
The struggling backstop will take a seat with the day game after the night game. Brayan Pena will start behind the plate. May 15 - 12:00 PM
Source: MLB Lineups on Twitter

Highest Searched Players over the last 7 days


Player News

Date:
Alex Avila - C - Tigers

Alex Avila smashed a game-winning two-run homer in the ninth inning, leading the Tigers to a 4-3 win over the Astros on Friday.

Avila had been hitless in three trips on the night before victimizing Jose Veras for the game-winner in the ninth inning. He’s off to an absolutely brutal start offensively, hitting just .179/.247/.333 with four homers and five RBI on the season, but for at least one night he gets to play the role of hero.
May 3 - 11:30 PM
Alex Avila - C - Tigers

Alex Avila is not in Wednesday's lineup against the Twins.

He's taking a seat with the day game after the night game. Brayan Pena will start behind the plate.
Related: Brayan Peña
Source: Jason Beck on Twitter
May 1 - 10:55 AM
Alex Avila - C - Tigers

Alex Avila was benched for two games of the Tigers' three-game sweep of the Braves, and is hitting just .169/.229/.262 on the season.

Avila is batting an absurd .140/.196/.140 across 46 plate appearances since last going deep on April 9. Backup Brayan Peña isn't hitting any better (.222/.250/.259), but Avila is on the spot after slumping to a .243/.352/.384 slash in 2012. The good news is, his troublesome knees have yet to be an issue. Avila deserves more time both in AL-only leagues and two-catcher mixed formats, but it wouldn't be panicking to start considering contingencies.
Related: Brayan Peña
Apr 29 - 2:56 PM
Alex Avila - C - Tigers

Alex Avila is batting just .226/.273/.419 but has a pair of home runs over his first eight contests this season.

The most important thing is that he's started and completed eight of nine games. Not lacking in pop or plate discipline, Avila could be a top-10 fantasy catcher this season if his knees don't act up.
Apr 12 - 12:56 PM
Alex Avila - C - Tigers

Alex Avila went 3-for-4 with a couple of doubles in the Tigers' 10-6 defeat of the Phillies on Tuesday.

As disappointing in 2012 as he was impressive in 2011, Avila is a key player for the Tigers this season. With a .286 average, three doubles and eight walks, he's been productive this spring, though it's come with 11 strikeouts in 28 at-bats. The Tigers need more production from the bottom of their lineup, and Avila bouncing back as at least a .260-15 HR guy would go a long way towards accomplishing that goal.
Mar 12 - 4:54 PM
Alex Avila - C - Tigers

Alex Avila believes that platelet-rich plasma injections have helped his left knee.

Avila played through pain last season while hitting just .243/.352/.384 with nine homers, but he's hopeful that his knee issues are behind him. "I'm already able to do stuff this offseason I wasn't able to do last offseason," said Avila. "I'm very happy about it."
Source: Detroit News
Jan 30 - 10:25 AM
Alex Avila - C - Tigers

Tigers avoided arbitration with C Alex Avila by agreeing to a one-year, $2.95 million contract.

Avila was eligible for arbitration for the first time this winter. The backstop hit a disappointing .243/.352/.384 with nine homers in 2012 while dealing with knee issues. He could bounce back in 2013 if he stays healthy.
Jan 18 - 1:47 PM
Alex Avila - C - Tigers

Alex Avila received a platelet-rich plasma injection in his left knee shortly after the conclusion of the World Series.

Avila has dealt with patellar tendinitis in both knees over the last two seasons, falling a month behind his offseason workout schedule last winter because he was rehabbing the knees. He said last Friday that he feels "great," though, and is "for sure" ahead of where he was last offseason. Avila's nagging knee issues no doubt were a big cause for his downturn in production in 2012 and they remain a concern despite the encouraging signs so far this offseason.
Source: Detroit News
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 10:06:00 AM
Alex Avila - C - Tigers

Alex Avila was scratched from Game 4 of the World Series with a forearm injury.

Gerald Laird will take Avila's spot in the lineup. Aliva was struck on the wrist by a foul tip while catching in Game 1 and is reportedly dealing with right forearm soreness. According to CBS Sports' Danny Knobler, the Tigers will consider a roster move if the series continues.
Source: Ken Rosenthal on Twitter
Sun, Oct 28, 2012 06:46:00 PM
Alex Avila - C - Tigers

Alex Avila is hitting eighth in Game 5 of the ALDS against the Athletics on Thursday.

No changes from Game 4. Austin Jackson is batting leadoff and will be followed by Quintin Berry, Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder, Delmon Young, Andy Dirks, Jhonny Peralta, Alex Avila and Omar Infante. Avila went 2-for-3 with a homer against Jarrod Parker back in Game 1.
Source: Brian Britten on Twitter
Thu, Oct 11, 2012 05:38:00 PM
Alex Avila - C - Tigers

Alex Avila is not in the lineup for Sunday's Game 2 of the ALDS against the Athletics.

Avila singled and launched a solo homer Saturday, but he batted just .176/.304/.235 against left-handed pitching this season, so Tigers manager Jim Leyland won't let him face A's southpaw Tommy Milone. Gerald Laird is catching Doug Fister and batting ninth.
Source: Detroit News
Sun, Oct 7, 2012 12:07:00 PM
Alex Avila - C - Tigers

Alex Avila hit an opposite-field solo homer off Jarrod Parker, helping the Tigers to a 3-1 victory over the A’s in Game 1 of the ALDS on Saturday night.

Avila finished 2-for-3. His solo shot increased the Tigers' advantage to 3-1 in the fifth inning, providing a valuable insurance run. The young backstop hit just .073 (3-for-41) with a homer and two RBI over 11 games in the postseason a year ago, so it’s encouraging to see him get off to such a hot start.
Sat, Oct 6, 2012 09:06:00 PM
Alex Avila - C - Tigers

Alex Avila knocked in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth as the Tigers edged the Royals 5-4 on Thursday.

The Royals committed five errors today, and the Tigers needed every one of them to eke out of a win. The finale could have been a sixth error, but it was more mental. With the bases loaded and out out, Avila hit a grounder right down the first-base line that Brayan Pena, filling in at first for an injured Eric Hosmer, was able to making a diving grab of. Pena, though, opted to tag first with his glove rather than try to throw home for the force out. The run scored uncontested, ending the game.
Thu, Sep 27, 2012 03:48:00 PM
Alex Avila - C - Tigers

Alex Avila had an RBI single in his return to the lineup Saturday.

He also drew a walk. Avila hadn't played since last Sunday due to a mild concussion, but he's expected to be fine moving forward.
Sun, Sep 23, 2012 03:27:00 AM

Depth Charts

Batters
PosRoleName
C1Alex Avila
2Brayan Peña
1B1Prince Fielder
2B1Omar Infante
2Ramon Santiago
SS1Jhonny Peralta
3B1Miguel Cabrera
LF1Andy Dirks
2Matt Tuiasosopo
CF1Austin Jackson
2Avisail Garcia
3Don Kelly
RF1Torii Hunter
DH1Victor Martinez
Starting Pitcher
PosRoleName
S1Justin Verlander
2Max Scherzer
3Doug Fister
4Anibal Sanchez
5Rick Porcello
Relief Pitcher
PosRoleName
R1Jose Valverde
2Joaquin Benoit
3Phil Coke
4Octavio Dotel
5Luke Putkonen
6Darin Downs
7Drew Smyly
8Jose Ortega