Luis Armando Avilán (born July 19, 1989) is a
Venezuela
Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many islands and islets in th ...
n
professional baseball
Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in baseball league, leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world.
Mod ...
pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw ...
who is a free agent. He previously played in
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
(MLB) for the
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. The Braves ...
,
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Established in 1883 in the city of Brooklyn ...
,
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team is owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, and p ...
,
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. Since 2004, the team's home sta ...
,
New York Mets
The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major league ...
,
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Amer ...
, and
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C.. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. From 2005 to 2007, the team played in RFK Stadiu ...
.
Professional career
Atlanta Braves
Avilán signed with the
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. The Braves ...
as an international
free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under contract at present but who is a ...
in 2005
[ and he began his professional career the following year with the Braves affiliate in the ]Dominican Summer League
The Dominican Summer League (DSL) is a branch of affiliated Minor League Baseball which is played in the Dominican Republic. The league was founded in 1985. After the demise of the Venezuelan Summer League after the 2015 season, it is the only L ...
.[ In 2008, he joined the ]Gulf Coast Braves
The Florida Complex League Braves are the Rookie-level affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, competing in the Florida Complex League of Minor League Baseball. Prior to 2021, the team was known as the Gulf Coast League Braves. The team plays at CoolTod ...
, his first assignment to a domestic team.[ He was the GCL Braves pitcher of the month for August when he had a 2.93 ERA in three starts.] In 2009, he was promoted to the Danville Braves
The Danville Braves were a Minor League Baseball team in Danville, Virginia. They were an Advanced Rookie-level team in the Appalachian League and were a farm team of the Atlanta Braves. The Braves have played home games at American Legion Post 3 ...
of the Appalachian League
The Appalachian League is a collegiate summer baseball league that operates in the Appalachian regions of Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina. Designed for rising freshmen and sophomores using wood bats, its season runs from ...
, where he made 14 appearances, including three starts and had a 3.05 ERA with two saves.[ In 2010, he made 41 appearances between the ]Rome Braves
The Rome Braves are a Minor League Baseball team of the South Atlantic League and the High-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. They are located in Rome, Georgia, and play their home games at AdventHealth Stadium. From 2003 to 2020, the team served ...
of the South Atlantic League
The South Atlantic League, often informally called the Sally League, is a Minor League Baseball league with teams predominantly in states along the Atlantic coast of the United States from New York to Georgia. A Class A league for most of its ...
and the Myrtle Beach Pelicans
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans are a Minor League Baseball team in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and the Single-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. The Pelicans compete in the Carolina League. Home games are played at TicketReturn.com Field, which open ...
of the Carolina League
The Carolina League is a Minor League Baseball league which has operated along the Atlantic Coast of the United States since 1945. Having been classified at various levels throughout its existence, it operated at Class A-Advanced from 1990 unti ...
and was a combined 6–4 with a 4.33 ERA in 41 games. He also saved nine games that season as the closer for Myrtle Beach.[ In 2011, with the ]Mississippi Braves
The Mississippi Braves, or M-Braves as they are referred to locally, are a Minor League Baseball team based in Pearl, Mississippi, a suburb of Jackson. The team is the Double-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and plays in the Southern League. T ...
of the Southern League, he was 4–8 with a 4.57 ERA in 36 appearances, including 13 starts.[
The Braves added him to their ]40-man roster
A Major League Baseball roster is a list of players who are allowed, by league agreement, to play for a Major League Baseball (MLB) team. Each MLB team maintains two rosters: an active roster of players eligible to participate in an MLB game, and ...
after the 2011 season to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. He began the 2012 season in Mississippi, where he was 3–6 with a 3.23 ERA 16 games (12 starts).[ He was promoted to the Triple-A ]Gwinnett Braves
The Gwinnett Stripers are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. They play their home games at Coolray Field in unincorporated Gwinnett County, Georgia (with a Lawrencevil ...
of the International League
The International League (IL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the United States. Along with the Pacific Coast League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one grade below Major League Baseball ...
on July 4, 2012, but did not make an appearance for them.[
On July 5, 2012, Avilán was called up by the Braves to replace the injured ]Jonny Venters
Jonathan William Venters (born March 20, 1985) is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves, Tampa Bay Rays and Washington Nationals.
Career Minor leagues
Venters was ...
. He made his first appearance on July 14 against the New York Mets
The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major league ...
, striking out the only batter he faced (Ike Davis
Isaac Benjamin Davis (born March 22, 1987) is an American former professional baseball first baseman. From 2010 through 2016, he played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates, Oakland Athletics, and New York ...
).[ His first career win came on October 3 against the ]Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Founded as part of the American Associati ...
on the final day of the season. In 31 appearances that season for the Braves, he had an ERA of 2.00.[
Avilán made 75 appearances in 2013 (4th in the NL), posting a 1.52 earned run average with a .144 batting average against and .219 on base percentage.][ In addition, he made appearances in all four games of the 2013 NLDS against the ]Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Established in 1883 in the city of Brooklyn ...
, allowing three hits and no runs in innings.
However, he struggled through the first half of the 2014 season, recording a 4.85 ERA in 47 games. Avilán was demoted to Triple A Gwinnett on July 19, 2014, and replaced by Chasen Shreve. He would finish the 2014 season with a 4.57 ERA in 62 games.[ 2015 was kinder to Avilán in a Braves uniform, as in 50 appearances, he posted a 3.58 ERA with a 1.20 ]WHIP
A whip is a tool or weapon designed to strike humans or other animals to exert control through pain compliance or fear of pain. They can also be used without inflicting pain, for audiovisual cues, such as in equestrianism. They are generally e ...
.
During his time with the Braves, Radio Announcer Don Sutton
Donald Howard Sutton (April 2, 1945 – January 19, 2021) was an American professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 23 seasons as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Astros, Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland ...
would often sing Avilan’s name in a sing-song manner to the tune of Feliz Navidad.
[
]
Los Angeles Dodgers
On July 30, 2015, in a three-team trade, the Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Established in 1883 in the city of Brooklyn ...
acquired Avilán, Mat Latos
Mathew Adam Latos ( ; born December 9, 1987) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padre ...
, Michael Morse
Michael John Morse (born March 22, 1982) is an American former professional baseball outfielder, first baseman and shortstop. Morse was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the third round (82nd overall) of the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft. ...
, Bronson Arroyo
Bronson Anthony Arroyo (born February 24, 1977) is an American former professional baseball pitcher and musician. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates between 2000 and 2002, the Boston Red Sox from 2003 to 2005, the ...
, Alex Wood, Jim Johnson, and José Peraza
José Francisco Peraza Polo (born April 30, 1994) is a Venezuelan professional baseball second baseman and shortstop in the New York Mets organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Cincin ...
, while the Miami Marlins
The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The club's home ballpark is LoanDepot Park.
The franc ...
acquired minor league pitchers Victor Araujo, Jeff Brigham, and Kevin Guzman, and the Braves received Héctor Olivera, Paco Rodriguez
Steven Francis "Paco" Rodríguez (born April 16, 1991) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. Prior to playing professionally, Rodriguez attended the University of Florida, where he played college baseball for the Florida Gators. ...
, minor league pitcher Zachary Bird and a competitive balance draft pick for the 2016 MLB Draft
The 2016 Major League Baseball (MLB) First-Year Player Draft began on June 9, 2016, to assign amateur baseball players to MLB teams.
The draft order is the reverse order of the 2015 MLB season standings. In addition, compensation picks will be d ...
. He pitched in 23 games for the Dodgers with a 5.17 ERA.
At the conclusion of the season, the Dodgers signed him to a one-year, $1.39 million, contract to avoid salary arbitration Free agency in Major League Baseball (MLB) concerns players whose contracts with a team have expired and who are therefore eligible to sign with another team. Free agents may be eligible for pendulum arbitration, also called "salary arbitration" or ...
though he began the season with the AAA Oklahoma City Dodgers
The Oklahoma City Dodgers are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. They are located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and play their home games at Chickasaw Bricktown Bal ...
after experiencing control problems in spring training
Spring training is the preseason in Major League Baseball (MLB), a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for Schedule (workplace), roster and position spo ...
. He split the season between the minors and the majors, appearing in 33 games for Oklahoma City, with a 4.24 ERA and 27 games for Los Angeles, with a 3.20 ERA. He also pitched in innings in the playoffs between the 2016 National League Division Series and the 2016 National League Championship Series, without allowing any earned runs.[ He signed a $1.5 million contract for 2017, avoiding salary arbitration.
Avilán spent the entire 2017 season in the Dodgers bullpen. In 61 games, he had a 2–3 record and 2.93 ERA.][ He felt some pain in his shoulder in September, leading to a diagnosis of "shoulder inflammation." As a result he was left off the Dodgers playoff roster.
]
Chicago White Sox
On January 4, 2018, Avilán was traded to the Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team is owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, and p ...
in a three-team trade that also sent Jake Peter and Scott Alexander to the Dodgers, Joakim Soria
Joakim Agustín Soria Ramos (born May 18, 1984) is a Mexican former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals, Texas Rangers, Detroit Tigers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago White Sox, Milwa ...
to the White Sox, and Trevor Oaks
Trevor Scott Oaks (born March 26, 1993) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 7th round of the 2014 MLB Draft. He played one season in Major League Baseball (MLB) in 2018 for the Ka ...
and Erick Mejia
Erick Augusto Mejia (born November 9, 1994) is a Dominican professional baseball infielder and outfielder in the Washington Nationals organization. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals.
Career Seattle Mariners
M ...
to the Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team was founded as an expans ...
.
Philadelphia Phillies
On August 22, 2018, Avilán was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. Since 2004, the team's home sta ...
in exchange for minor league pitcher Felix Paulino. Between the two teams, in 2018 he was 2-1 with two saves and a 3.77 ERA. He threw a change-up 48.1% of the time, tops in MLB. He elected free agency on November 30, 2018. In his career through 2018 he had held left-handed batters to a batting average of .213, and right-handed batters to a batting average of .244.
New York Mets
On January 10, 2019, Avilán signed a minor league deal with the New York Mets
The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major league ...
that included an invitation to spring training
Spring training is the preseason in Major League Baseball (MLB), a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for Schedule (workplace), roster and position spo ...
. He made the team and had his contract purchased for opening day. On April 15, 2019, Avilán earned his first victory as a Met in a game against the Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. Since 2004, the team's home sta ...
. On the season, he registered an 5.06 ERA with 30 strikeouts in 32.0 innings of work. He elected free agency on October 31, 2019.
New York Yankees
On February 3, 2020, Avilán signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Amer ...
. On July 21, Avilán had his contract selected to the 40-man roster. On August 28, Avilán was released by the Yankees two days after being placed on the injured list due to shoulder inflammation. He had pitched to a 4.32 ERA across 8.1 innings in 2019.
Washington Nationals
On December 14, 2020, Avilán signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C.. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. From 2005 to 2007, the team played in RFK Stadiu ...
organization. On March 28, 2021, Avilán was selected to the 40-man roster. On April 17, 2021, it was announced that Avilán had suffered a tear in his left UCL, requiring Tommy John surgery
Ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, colloquially known as Tommy John surgery (TJS), is a surgical graft procedure where the ulnar collateral ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with either a tendon from elsewhere in the patient's bo ...
and ending his 2021 season early. He was placed on the 60-day injured list on April 30. In 4 games for the Nationals in 2021, Avilán registered a 12.60 ERA with 4 strikeouts. Avilán became a free agent following the 2021 season and re-signed with the Nationals on a minor league contract on November 29, 2021. He elected free agency on November 10, 2022.
See also
* List of Major League Baseball players from Venezuela
From 1939 to 2019, 397 Venezuelan baseball players born in Venezuela have played in Major League Baseball. This list shows players who appeared in at least one game in MLB, including number indicating order of arrival, name of player, position, ...
References
External links
Luis Avilán
at Pura Pelota (Venezuelan Professional Baseball League)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Avilan, Luis
1989 births
Living people
Atlanta Braves players
Cardenales de Lara players
Chicago White Sox players
Danville Braves players
Dominican Summer League Braves players
Gulf Coast Braves players
Gwinnett Braves players
Los Angeles Dodgers players
Major League Baseball pitchers
Major League Baseball players from Venezuela
Mississippi Braves players
Myrtle Beach Pelicans players
New York Mets players
New York Yankees players
Oklahoma City Dodgers players
Philadelphia Phillies players
Rome Braves players
Baseball players from Caracas
Venezuelan expatriate baseball players in the United States
Washington Nationals players
St. Lucie Mets players
Syracuse Mets players
Venezuelan expatriate baseball players in the Dominican Republic