Alex Avila impressive for division-leading Tigers
Splitting time with Gerald Laird last season, Detroit Tigers catcher Alex Avila struggled offensively.
So when Laird departed via free agency – after managing an atrocious .567 OPS in 2010 – the Tigers addressed their lack of production behind the plate by acquiring the best offensive catcher available, Victor Martinez, in free agency.
Martinez has been as advertised for the Tigers at the plate this season, but it’s rarely been as a catcher. That’s because Avila has been the main man behind the plate supplying the offense this season.
After storming out of the gate with a .943 OPS in April and out-hitting Martinez altogether, Avila continued his torrid pace in the following months and started to emerge as a legitimate offensive threat in the Tigers’ lineup.
Pressed for a particular reason for for the improvement at the plate this season, Avila is straightforward.
“The biggest thing is confidence,” he said. “For any young guy coming up in the Major Leagues, there’s always an adjustment period. You’ve got to be able to work through it [and] believe in yourself.”
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Avila’s hot start to the season firmly entrenched him as the Tigers’ starting catcher and relegated Martinez, the club’s $50 million offseason signing, to primary DH duties.
Having a Silver Slugger and four-time All-Star like Martinez in the clubhouse, though, has given Avila a first-hand look at how a successful offensive catcher balances the rigors of handling a pitching staff with keeping a positive approach at the plate.
Only 24 years old, Avila has certainly valued having a veteran like Martinez around, and hasn’t hesitated to pick his brain when necessary.
“Always,” Avila said about seeking advice from the 32-year-old. “That’s something I did with my teammates in the minor leagues and college too. You’re constantly trying to pick up and learn new things. I think that’s one thing I’ve been able to do well is being able to learn quickly and apply what I’ve learned quickly on the field.”
Now, with one month left in the season, it’s easy to see that Avila continues to apply what he has learned offensively. On a team with offensive juggernaut Miguel Cabrera, Avila’s .304 average, 15 home runs, and 62 RBIs have flown under the radar, but not because they’re not impressive. In fact, Avila actually leads all Major League catchers in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging.
But Avila hasn’t just starred at the plate this season; he’s excelled behind it as well.
In addition to posting the best caught-stealing percentage of his career so far, Avila has worked meticulously with the Tigers’ pitching staff to develop an even greater rapport with every single member. The results for the first-place Tigers have been impressive, and it’s easy to see what has caused the improvement.
“Experience, that’s the biggest thing,” the Florida native said. “As players you work hard every year and you continue to try to improve in every aspect, and the more experience you gain, the more knowledge you have, and the more comfortable you feel.”
Avila’s experience since joining the Tigers in 2009 has also helped him learn some things from the American League’s best starting pitcher this season, Justin Verlander.
While a catcher certainly benefits from catching a pitcher pitcher of Verlander’s caliber, Avila is trusted when he puts down signs for the potential Cy Young Award winner, and the two of them have turned into an impeccable pair.
So impeccable, that on May 7 in Toronto this season, Verlander threw a no-hitter against the Blue Jays, and both were honored through a pre-game ceremony at Comerica Park at the end of June.
“The no-hitter in Toronto was great. I think [Verlander] is going to throw a couple more no-hitters before his career is over, and he’s come very close so far this year a few times,” Avila told The Good Point. “I’ve caught him for the last two to three years or so, we’ve gotten to know each other pretty well, just like everybody else on this staff.”
However, when new pitchers arrive through a trade or another avenue, Avila hardly knows them at all. Couple the unfamiliarity with any new additions and Avila’s young age, and that could very well translate into a few rough outings.
The Tigers had that very scenario last month, when they went out and acquired right-handers Doug Fister and David Pauley in a trade from the Seattle Mariners. Luckily for the Tigers, though, the 24-year-old Avila seems to handle adversity like a seasoned veteran.
“With new pitchers coming in, really what you want to do is make them feel as comfortable and as at home as possible. You just pitch to their strengths,” Avila said. “You want to use their strengths, what they’re used to getting guys out with and stuff like that.”
When it comes to strengths, Avila has an impressive set of his own. In addition to swinging a red-hot bat and maturely managing a division-leading club’s pitching staff, Avila has been unbelievably durable for the Tigers this season.
He’s been hit with what seems like more foul balls than any other catcher, been involved in collisions at the plate, and had his fair share of other bumps and bruises. With Victor Martinez on the disabled list this month and the team without a legitimate backup for Avila in the event that he does get injured, his contributions to every aspect of the game are only that much more impressive.
Without a doubt, Avila is impressing in his first full season as an everyday catcher. If he continues to play like this, though, the rest of the American League will be far from impressed.
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