Alex Avila Biography

Alex Avila (born Alexander Thomas Avila) is a well-reputed American former baseball catcher. He played for the Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs Arizona Diamondbacks, and Minnesota Twins between 2009 and 2021, and Washington Nationals. He was the Tigers’ starting catcher for the team’s four straight American League Central Division titles. This included catching Cy Young Award seasons for starting pitchers Justin Verlander in 2011 and Max Scherzer in 2013.

Nicknamed “The Titanium Catcher” because of the perception among many baseball fans that he was unusually likely to be hit by foul tips. He has a history of concussions and concussion-like symptoms. Due to this reason, he spent time on the disabled list for a concussion in 2013 and missed games on at least two occasions in 2014 for concussion-like symptoms after taking blows to the head.

Alex Avila Education

He received his education at Archbishop McCarthy High School where he played prep baseball. In high school, he was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 34th round of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft. Also, he attended De La Salle Collegiate High School for his sophomore year. However, he opted to attend The University of Alabama where he was an All-SEC selection. There, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League in 2007.

Alex Avila Career

Alex Avila Detroit Tigers

Following his junior year in college, he was drafted by the Tigers in the fifth round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft. He made his major league debut on August 6, 2009, against the Baltimore Orioles. In the game, he had two hits, scoring a run and also batting one in. He finished the 2009 season playing in 29 games with a .279 batting average, 5 home runs, and 14 runs batted in. On June 2, 2010, he was the catcher for Armando Galarraga’s near-perfect game. 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. For the 2011 season, he was named the Tigers starting catcher and showed considerable improvement.

That season, his stats included a .295 batting average with 19 home runs and 82 runs batted in. Moreover, he won the 2011 Silver Slugger Award for the American League catcher. This made him the 10th Detroit Tigers catcher to win the award and first since Ivan Rodriguez in 2004. He followed his career-best 2011 season with one marked by inconsistency. Nagging injuries undercut his offensive performance while catching the fourth most games in the American League.

2013-2015

In 2013, he had a horrible first half and spent time on the disabled list in June. Through the end of June, he was batting just .172. In the second half of 2013, he fared much better hitting .281 over the season’s final three months including batting .343 in September. On January 31, 2014, he avoided arbitration with the Tigers by signing a one-year contract worth $4.15 million with a club option for 2015.

However, he struggled with hitting as he batted a career-low .218 while matching his 2013 totals of 11 home runs and 47 RBIs. On November 17, 2014, the Tigers exercised the $5.4 million contract option on him for the 2015 season. In the 2015 season, he suffered a knee injury that robbed him of some time as well. At the end of the 2015 season, he became a free agent having reached 6 years of service time.

Alex Avila Chicago White Sox

He went on and agreed on a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Chicago White Sox on November 25, 2015. However, injuries again shortened his season. He just played 57 games for the 2016 White Sox, hitting .213 with 7 home runs.

Alex Avila’s Second stint with the Detroit Tigers

On December 23, 2016, he signed a one-year $2 million contract with the Detroit Tigers. The following year on April 6, he hit an RBI double in the eighth inning on his first at-bat against the Chicago White Sox.

Alex Avila Chicago Cubs

He and pitcher Justin Wilson were traded to the Chicago Cubs on July 31, 2017, in exchange for infielder Jeimer Candelario, shortstop Isaac Paredes and a player to be named later or cash considerations. In 2017, in 112 combined games with the Tigers and Cubs, he hit .264 with 14 home runs and 49 RBI.

Alex Avila Arizona Diamondbacks

He signed a two-year contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks on January 31, 2018. In that season, he has the highest strikeout percentage and major leaguers against right-handed pitchers (39.5%). In 2019, he batted .207/.353/.421 with 9 home runs and 24 RBI in 201 plate appearances.

Alex Avila Minnesota Twins

On December 10, 2019, he signed with the Minnesota Twins on a one-year contract. In that season, he slashed .184/.355/.286 with 1 home run and 2 RBI across 23 games.

Alex Avila Washington Nationals

He went on and signed with the Washington Nationals on January 28, 2021, on a one-year contract. After a 13-year MLB career, he announced on September 19, 2021, that he was retiring from baseball.

Alex Avila Age

Alex was born on January 29, 1987, therefore he is 36 years old as of August 2023. He thus celebrates his birthday on January 29th of every year.

Alex Avila Height

He stands at a height of 5 feet 11 inches (1.8m) tall.

Alex Avila Family

Avila was born in Hialeah, Florida to Al Avila (Father, born on August 2, 1958) a Cuban baseball executive. And Yamile Avila (Mother). He has a younger brother by the name of Alan Avila.

Alex Avila Wife

Alex is married to the love of his life, Kristina Perez Avila. They met in high school but it is not known when they got married. He and his wife are blessed with two daughters; Avery Noelle (born on April 7, 2013) and Zoey Gabrielle (born on March 4, 2015).

Alex Avila Net Worth

Avila has an estimated net worth ranging between $1 million – $5 million which he has earned through being a former MLB player.

Alex Avila Salary

He earns an annual salary of $1.5 million.