Mike Avilés | |||
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Avilés with the Detroit Tigers in 2016
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Free agent | |||
Utility player | |||
Born: New York, New York |
March 13, 1981 |||
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MLB debut | |||
May 29, 2008, for the Kansas City Royals | |||
MLB statistics (through August 1, 2016) |
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Batting average | .262 | ||
Home runs | 59 | ||
Runs batted in | 298 | ||
Stolen bases | 78 | ||
Teams | |||
Medal record | ||
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Men's baseball | ||
Representing Puerto Rico | ||
World Baseball Classic | ||
2013 San Francisco | Team | |
2017 Los Angeles | Team |
Michael Anthony Avilés [ah-ve-les'] (born March 13, 1981) is an American professional baseball utility player who is currently a free agent. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals, Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, and Detroit Tigers. Over the course of his career, Aviles has played every position except for pitcher, catcher, and first base.
Avilés was born in New York City to a Puerto Rican family, and raised in the Castle Hill section of the Bronx. Aviles later moved with his family to Middletown, New York shortly before starting high school, graduating from Middletown High School in 1999. Aviles was a Division II All-American shortstop at Concordia College, in Bronxville, New York, and was named Division II Player of the Year in 2003, after hitting .500 with 83 runs, 22 home runs and 65 runs batted in (RBI) in 45 games.
Aviles was chosen in the seventh round of the 2003 Major League Baseball draft by the Kansas City Royals and offered an "insulting" $1,000 signing bonus. He spent 2004 with the Wilmington Blue Rocks in the Carolina League and 2005 with the Wichita Wranglers in the Texas League. He then spent 2006 and 2007 with the Omaha Royals of the Pacific Coast League, becoming the Royals' Minor League Player of The Year in 2007. He started 2008 in the minors, batting .338 with 10 home runs and 42 RBI in 50 games with Omaha.