Alex Avila
Born: 1/29/1987 in Hialeah, FL, USA
MLB Debut: 2009-08-06 | Final Game: 2021-10-03
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 228 lbs
Full name: Alexander Thomas Avila
Biography
Alex Avila, born in 1987, was a professional baseball player who had a notable career as a position player from 2009 until his retirement in 2021. Over the course of 1,052 games, Avila established himself as a reliable catcher known for his defensive skills and ability to handle a pitching staff. He recorded 714 hits, 105 home runs, and 397 RBIs, finishing his career with a batting average of .233. His contributions on the field were recognized with an All-Star selection, highlighting his status among the top players in Major League Baseball during his peak years.
Avila's playing style was characterized by his strong game management behind the plate and his capacity to contribute offensively when needed. He played a significant role during his tenure with the Detroit Tigers, where he became a fan favorite and part of a competitive team that made multiple playoff appearances in the early 2010s. As a member of the generation that bridged the gap between traditional baseball and the analytics-driven approach of the modern game, Avila's career serves as a reflection of the evolving role of catchers in baseball, blending defensive prowess with offensive potential. His legacy includes not only his individual achievements but also his impact on the teams he played for and the players he mentored throughout his career.
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2.25 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | AZ | NL | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | - |
| 2019 | AZ | NL | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4.50 | - |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1052 | 3060 | 352 | 714 | 155 | 9 | 105 | 397 | 8 | 528 | 1068 | 0.233 | 0.348 | 0.393 | 0.740 | 2691.1 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | DET | AL | 29 | 61 | 9 | 17 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 18 | 0.279 | 300.8 |
| 2010 | DET | AL | 104 | 294 | 28 | 67 | 12 | 0 | 7 | 31 | 2 | 36 | 71 | 0.228 | -467.4 |
| 2011 | DET | AL | 141 | 464 | 63 | 137 | 33 | 4 | 19 | 82 | 3 | 73 | 131 | 0.295 | 2396.5 |
| 2012 | DET | AL | 116 | 367 | 42 | 89 | 21 | 2 | 9 | 48 | 2 | 61 | 104 | 0.243 | 301.6 |
| 2013 | DET | AL | 102 | 330 | 39 | 75 | 14 | 1 | 11 | 47 | 0 | 44 | 112 | 0.227 | -125.7 |
| 2014 | DET | AL | 124 | 390 | 44 | 85 | 22 | 0 | 11 | 47 | 0 | 61 | 151 | 0.218 | 18.6 |
| 2015 | DET | AL | 67 | 178 | 21 | 34 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 13 | 0 | 40 | 66 | 0.191 | -253.0 |
| 2016 | CHW | AL | 57 | 169 | 19 | 36 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 11 | 0 | 38 | 78 | 0.213 | 103.5 |
| 2017 | CHC | NL | 35 | 92 | 11 | 22 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 17 | 0 | 19 | 40 | 0.239 | 63.9 |
| 2017 | DET | AL | 77 | 219 | 30 | 60 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 32 | 0 | 43 | 80 | 0.274 | 63.9 |
| 2018 | AZ | NL | 80 | 194 | 13 | 32 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 20 | 0 | 37 | 90 | 0.165 | -538.9 |
| 2019 | AZ | NL | 63 | 164 | 22 | 34 | 8 | 0 | 9 | 24 | 1 | 36 | 68 | 0.207 | 166.9 |
| 2020 | MIN | AL | 23 | 49 | 6 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 22 | 0.184 | -61.1 |
| 2021 | WAS | NL | 34 | 89 | 5 | 17 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 19 | 37 | 0.191 | -19.6 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | 111 | 6 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 11 | 43 | 0.153 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | ALWC3 | MIN | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 2017 | NLCS | CHN | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 2014 | ALDS2 | DET | 3 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0.222 |
| 2013 | ALCS | DET | 6 | 16 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 0.188 |
| 2013 | ALDS2 | DET | 5 | 15 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0.133 |
| 2012 | ALCS | DET | 3 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0.200 |
| 2012 | WS | DET | 2 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0.143 |
| 2012 | ALDS2 | DET | 4 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0.250 |
| 2011 | ALCS | DET | 6 | 25 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0.080 |
| 2011 | ALDS1 | DET | 5 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 0.062 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 46 | 24 | 207 | 12 | 1 | 24 |
| 2B | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 3B | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| C | 929 | 867 | 6658 | 407 | 38 | 59 |
| P | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | DET | C | 25 | 17 | 101 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | DET | C | 98 | 84 | 556 | 34 | 4 | 5 |
| 2011 | DET | C | 133 | 130 | 940 | 73 | 5 | 14 |
| 2011 | DET | 3B | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2012 | DET | C | 113 | 107 | 897 | 57 | 6 | 7 |
| 2013 | DET | C | 98 | 96 | 815 | 29 | 6 | 4 |
| 2014 | DET | C | 122 | 116 | 883 | 52 | 5 | 9 |
| 2014 | DET | 1B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | DET | C | 44 | 43 | 291 | 18 | 0 | 3 |
| 2015 | DET | 1B | 23 | 13 | 120 | 9 | 1 | 12 |
| 2016 | CHA | C | 54 | 52 | 414 | 21 | 2 | 3 |
| 2017 | CHN | C | 28 | 24 | 210 | 15 | 2 | 2 |
| 2017 | CHN | 1B | 3 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2017 | DET | C | 50 | 46 | 323 | 18 | 1 | 4 |
| 2017 | DET | 1B | 16 | 10 | 71 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
| 2018 | ARI | P | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | ARI | C | 61 | 57 | 456 | 39 | 1 | 2 |
| 2018 | ARI | 1B | 3 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2019 | ARI | P | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | ARI | C | 54 | 49 | 384 | 29 | 2 | 2 |
| 2020 | MIN | C | 22 | 19 | 153 | 6 | 3 | 1 |
| 2021 | WAS | C | 27 | 27 | 235 | 9 | 1 | 3 |
| 2021 | WAS | 2B | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 3 |
| Catcher | 929 |
| First Base | 46 |
| Second Base | 1 |
| Third Base | 1 |
| Designated Hitter | 18 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Silver Slugger | C |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | CHA | AL | $2,500,000 |
| 2015 | DET | AL | $5,400,000 |
| 2014 | DET | AL | $4,150,000 |
| 2013 | DET | AL | $2,950,000 |
| 2012 | DET | AL | $510,000 |
| 2011 | DET | AL | $425,000 |
| 2010 | DET | AL | $404,900 |
| Total Career Earnings | $16,339,900 | ||
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa | AL | 2006, 2007, 2008 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 12th | 13.0 | 392 | 0 |