Detroit Tigers catcher Alex Avila was re-evaluated and cleared to play Friday night in New York when the Tigers open a three-game series with the Yankees, the team has announced.
It was feared that Avila had suffered a concussion after taking a foul tip in the mask while behind the plate in the fourth inning of a 10-3 win over the Cleveland Indians on Thursday. He did not travel with the team after the game in order to undergo additional testing at a local hospital, but he was en route to New York after getting a thumbs-up following his medical examinations.
Avila shook off the injury at first. However, later in the inning – with slight bleeding occurring from his left ear -- he was checked by Tigers head athletic trainer Kevin Rand. Avila finished that inning but was replaced in the fifth inning by Brayan Pena after experiencing light-headedness and feeling nauseated.
Avila was 0-for-3 in Thursday night’s game, but is batting .280 with three home runs and 15 RBIs since the All-Star break. He’s also been instrumental in working with the pitching staff during the current 12-game winning streak, which Detroit has not exceeded since 1934 when it won 14 in a row.
