About This Meeting
The DEC hosted Detroit Tigers Executive VP & General Manager Al Avila and Manager A.J. Hinch in an exclusive interview with Dan Dickerson on Wednesday, May 26.
Al Avila
Executive VP & General Manager
Entering his 25th season in professional baseball, his 15th season with the organization and his first full season as the Tigers Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager after being named to the position on August 4, 2015.
Is the first Cuban-born general manager in baseball history.
Is responsible for the day-to-day baseball operations of the organization and the major league club.
Prior to joining the Tigers on April 15, 2002, he served as Special Assistant to Pittsburgh Pirates General Manager Dave Littlefield...appointed to the position on January 23, 2002 after spending nine seasons with the Florida Marlins.
Served as the interim General Manager for the Marlins during the 2001 offseason following David Dombrowski's departure to Detroit.
Named Florida's Vice President and Assistant General Manager in July 2001.
Under Avila's guidance, the Marlins drafted 2003 World Series Most Valuable Player Josh Beckett in the first round of the June 1999 draft, while in the first round of the June 2000 draft, the Marlins drafted the Midwest League's top hitting prospect in 2001 and one of the youngest players to play in the Futures Game in Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez.
On the international front, Avila led the way to the 1999 signing of Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera, who in 2012 won the American League Triple Crown and was named the American League Most Valuable Player...Cabrera made it to the major leagues in 2003 at the age of 20 and clubbed four home runs during the postseason for the World Champion Florida Marlins...also was instrumental in the signing and development of second baseman Luis Castillo, shortstop Alex Gonzalez and shortstop Edgar Renteria.
Inducted into the Professional Baseball Scouts Hall of Fame in 2012.
Named Director of Scouting for the Marlins in July 1998...was responsible for all of the Marlins scouting efforts on both the national and international levels and he oversaw the development of those players in the baseball academies in the Dominican Republic and Venezuela.
Under Avila's guidance, the Marlins signed 1997 NLCS and World Series Most Valuable Player Livan Hernandez.
Before being named the Director of Latin American Operations in 1994, Avila was originally hired by the Marlins as the Assistant Director of Latin American Operations in June 1992.
Prior to joining the Marlins, Avila served as the Director of Athletics and head baseball coach at St. Thomas (FL) University from 1989-92...he led the team to a number three ranking in the 1992 NAIA poll and won the Florida Sun Conference Championship in 1991 and 1992...Avila was named the 1991 Florida Sun Conference Coach of the Year.
Served as General Manager of the Daytona Beach Admirals of the Florida State League in 1987 and worked for the Los Angeles Dodgers organization in 1986.
A graduate of Hialeah High School, Avila earned a master's degree in sports administration from St. Thomas University in 1986.
A former catcher, Avila was signed as a non-drafted free agent with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization.
Named one of the Top 50 Most Influential Hispanics in Michigan in 2003.
He and his wife, Yamile, have three children: sons, Alexander (1/29/87) and Alan (7/21/89) and daughter, Annelisa Marie (10/27/98).
His son, Alex, is a catcher for the Chicago White Sox.
His son, Alan, graduated from Florida International University School of Law in May, 2014 and is the Tigers Assistant Counsel, Baseball Operations.
Is the son of Ralph Avila, retired Vice President of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
A.J. Hinch
Manager
AJ Hinch was named Detroit Tigers manager in the fall of 2020 and is currently in his first season as manager of the team. As an MLB player, Hinch was a catcher for the Oakland A’s, Kansas City Royals, Detroit Tigers, and Philadelphia Phillies.
After retiring from his playing career, Hinch managed the Arizona Diamondbacks and Houston Astros, and has also spent time as VP of professional scouting for the San Diego Padres.
He is a native of Nashua, Iowa and a graduate of Stanford University.
211 West Fort Street
