Who is Al Avila?

Detroit Tigers’ general manager, Al Avila, has now been sacked from his position. Avila had been working for the Tigers since 2002, first serving in the role of assistant general manager before being promoted to GM after Dave Dombrowski met a similar fate. The Tigers achieved minor successes during the 64-year-old Cuban’s tenure.

A Havana, Cuba native, Avil had defected to the United States with his family when he was very young. Notably, his father, Ralph Avila, was a semipro baseball player. Ralph had also worked as a scout for the Los Angeles Dodgers when Al was a child. Al’s stint in baseball management began at his alma mater, St. Thomas University, where he worked as an assistant coach for Paul Mainieri.

His next stint was served in the Latin American operations of Florida Marlins (now Miami Marlins), where he was an assistant director. Avila became a director only two seasons later. Liván Hernández, the World Series MVP, signed for the Marlins during Avila’s tenure. After his stint with the Marlins, Avila moved on to the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he served as general manager Dave Littlefield’s special assistant. 

The relationship between Avila and the Detroit Tigers began in 2002, when he was named their vice president, as well as assistant general manager. When he took on the general manager’s role in 2015, Avila created history by becoming baseball history’s first Cuban-born GM. 

In a statement he released post the announcement of the sacking, Avila said, “For nearly 22 years, I have given my heart and soul to this franchise, and I want to thank Mr. and Mrs. Ilitch, along with Chris, for the opportunity and treating me and my family as their own”. 

Sam Menzin, the assistant general manager, is set to take on the day-to-day running of the Tigers’ baseball operations till a new face is placed at the helm.