Alex Avila: The Tigers' 2010 Starting Catcher?

How often does a fifth-round draft choice reach the majors in his second professional season?  It’s a rare enough feat as it is, but it becomes even rarer when the player in question is a catcher. That’s what Tigers' 22-year old catcher Alex Avila has accomplished, however. After being selected out of the University of Alabama, Avila got a taste of professional baseball last season, getting 213 at-bats in Single-A. He hit .305 with one home run and 22 RBI, but didn’t garner much attention. Baseball America did not have him ranked among the team’s top-10 prospects, though another catcher, Dusty Ryan, was ranked at No. 9. With Gerald Laird and Matt Treanor on the roster as well, it seemed unlikely that he would get a look this season. As much as his questionable offensive output at Single-A, concerns about his defense could have easily caused him to remain in the minor leagues. Considering that he did not move behind the plate until his junior year of ...