The White Sox have placed catcher Alex Avila on the disabled list with a strained right hamstring and called up Triple-A backstop Kevan Smith to replace him, reports Jon Morosi of MLB Network (Twitter link).
Prior to suffering the injury against the Rangers on Saturday, the lefty-swinging Avila posted a .214/.333/.250 batting line in 28 plate appearances. While those numbers certainly aren’t great, they’re easily superior to the ones his platoon mate, Dioner Navarro, has compiled thus far (.100/.129/.100 in 30 PAs).
Navarro looks poised to accrue more playing time with Avila down, though Smith has put up an outstanding line at Triple-A Charlotte this year, batting .345/.394/.586 with two home runs in 33 PAs. The 27-year-old has hit an impressive .290/.367/.454 in 1,988 career minor league trips to the plate while throwing out 31 percent of base stealers in six seasons. He’s now primed to see his first major league action.
Smith is interesting. He played football and baseball at Pittsburgh. He has hit consistently at all minor league levels.
Navarro should hit better with more regular at bats. The key word here is should. He looked great at the plate one year with with the Blue Jays.
If Smith hits, the question will become which one of Navarro or Avila gets let go. Avila has shown declining ability at the plate, and has become injury prone. Navarro is the lesser defensively.
Navarro calls a great game though. He was a big reason for Estrada’s success last season
I’m surprised it took this long for Avila to go on the DL. His father didn’t want him in Detroit. I’m sure because he’s injury prone.