Meet Al Avila
Currently, Al Avila serves as the executive vice president of baseball operations and general manager of the Detroit Tigers of the Major League Baseball (MLB). He is married to Yamile Avila, with whom he has three children: Alex Avila, Alan Avila, and Annelisa Marie Avila. His son, Alex Avila, is presently a catcher with the Washington Nationals, where he has played since 2012.
Al Avila Career
In 1988, Avila assisted Paul Mainieri as an assistant baseball coach at St. Thomas University, where he had previously studied. The next year, when Mainieri had gone to join the Air Force Academy, he was elevated to the position of head coach. Before joining the Florida Marlins’ executive office in 1992, Avila held the post of athletics director at the university.
Al Vila Career with St. Thomas University
Avila was hired as the deputy director of Latin American operations by the Florida Marlins in June 1992. He was elevated to director of Latin American operations after two seasons with the Marlins. Liván Hernández was signed by the Marlins during Florida’s World Series run under Avila’s direction.
Al Vila Career with Florida Marlins
After being named director of scouting by the Marlins in July 1998, Avila was in charge of all the team’s scouting efforts at the national and international levels, as well as the development of players in the Dominican and Venezuelan baseball academies. Avila was instrumental in Florida’s second World Series victory in 2003 when 16-year-old Miguel Cabrera made his major league debut and blasted a career-high four home runs.
Following Dave Dombrowski’s departure to the Detroit Tigers in the off-season of 2001, Avila served as the Marlins’ temporary general manager. The Marlins hired him as their vice president and deputy general manager in July of that year.
Al Vila Career with Pittsburgh
John Avila joined the Pittsburgh Pirates as a special assistant to general manager Dave Littlefield back in 2002.
A week later, on April 16, 2002, Avila was promoted to vice president of baseball operations and assistant general manager for the Tigers.
Al Vila Career with Detroit Tigers
Prior to Dombrowski’s departure, Avila was appointed to general manager and executive VP for baseball operations on August 4, 2015.
He was the first general manager in baseball history to be born in Cuba.
A multi-year contract extension for Avila was announced by the Tigers on July 5, 2019.
