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Tigers' starting catcher Alex Avila took a beating behind the plate in Thursday's 10-3 victory over the Indians. He was removed from the game after being hit hard enough in the mask by a fourth inning foul ball for blood to trickle from his left ear.
Avila was sent to a Cleveland hospital after suffering from concussion-like symptoms, complaining of nausea and light-headedness. After being looked over in Cleveland, Avila was sent back to Detroit for reevaluation, immediately triggering fears the Tigers' baseball magnet catcher was headed to the 7-day concussion disabled list.
Those fears turned out to be unwarranted.
Alex Avila was re-evaluated and is cleared to play this evening. He is joining the team in New York for tonight's game. #Tigers
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) August 9, 2013
The possible loss of Avila would have been a blow to a Tigers' lineup already battered by injuries and Jhonny Peralta's 50 game suspension.
Avila struggled up to the All-Star break, ending the first half with a .177 batting average. But the second half has rejuvenated Avila, hitting .280/.333/.540 with three home runs and 15 RBIs in 14 games post break.