Luis Avilan is a Venezuelan professional baseball player who has played as a pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) for several teams. He began his career in 2006 when he was signed as an amateur free agent by the Atlanta Braves. After spending several years in the minor leagues, Avilan made his MLB debut in 2012 with the Braves.
During his time with the Braves, Avilan was primarily used as a relief pitcher. He quickly established himself as a reliable left-handed specialist, often being called upon to face left-handed batters in key situations. In his rookie season, Avilan posted an impressive 1.52 earned run average (ERA) in 62 appearances, helping the Braves win the National League East division title.
Avilan continued to be a valuable member of the Braves bullpen for several seasons, but was eventually traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2015. He spent one season with the Dodgers before being traded again, this time to the Chicago White Sox. Avilan had a solid season with the White Sox in 2018, posting a 3.77 ERA in 70 appearances.
After his stint with the White Sox, Avilan signed with the New York Mets for the 2019 season. He struggled with injuries that season, appearing in only 45 games and posting a 5.06 ERA. Avilan then signed with the Washington Nationals for the 2020 season, but only appeared in nine games due to the shortened season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Avilan signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers for the 2021 season, but was released in May after struggling in his limited appearances. He then signed with the New York Yankees, but was designated for assignment in July and ultimately released.
Overall, Avilan had a solid career as a left-handed relief pitcher in MLB. He appeared in 393 games over 10 seasons, posting a 3.28 ERA and striking out 347 batters in 329 innings pitched. While he never became a star player, Avilan was a reliable and effective pitcher who was valued by the teams he played for.
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