Longtime Dodgers scout Ralph Avila passed away on Monday, according to multiple reports. He was 92 years old.
Avila, the father of former Tigers general manager Al Avila and grandfather of longtime MLB catcher Alex Avila, was first hired by the Dodgers in 1970 as a scout in Latin America. As Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register notes, Ralph Avila was the signing scout when L.A. first landed Pedro Martínez as an amateur out of the Dominican Republic. The Hall of Fame right-hander was one of a number of players Avila brought into the organization over a scouting career that lasted three decades.
Part of a group that helped found the rookie-level Dominican Summer League in 1985, Avila also helped organize the Dodgers’ academy in the Dominican Republic. He retired as a scout in 1999 but remained an advisor to the Los Angeles organization for more than two decades thereafter. Avila was on staff as an advisor to the Dodgers’ scouting department as recently as 2021 and was the first recipient of Major League Baseball’s International Scout of the Year award in 2006.
MLBTR sends our condolences to Avila’s family, friends, loved ones and former colleagues.
One of the unsung legends that helped bring a wealth of incredible talent into Major League Baseball
He probably deserves a spot in the non-players corridor in Cooperstown.
Condolences to Ralph’s family and his cherished legacy
One of the many who give so much to make the game possible, and yet, so few stop to think about or understand it.
When you stop and think of all the travel, all the young players he would’ve watched through the years, and the toll that would take on a person and their relationships with friends and family around them (especially in the pre-smart phone days)… he gave so much of, and in, his life for love of the game, so thank you Mr. Avila and R-I-P..
@GA, yes, well said.
A lot of people heard his name as Vin Scully, Rick Monday and Don Drysdale used to refer to him…
Rest in peace
Someone should have worked with him to write a book about his experiences. So many interesting stories to be told.
Great idea Manny. That would have been a great read
You get my thumbs up. Perhaps all those who obnoxiously correct everyone else’s grammar (and get my automatic block) could make themselves useful and do just that.
Crazy how he and then by some crazy coincidence his children became baseball executives.
Must be something in the genes.
The strength of those genes got diluted over the generations, however. But my condolences go out to the Avila family over the loss of their patriarch.
The Spanish pronunciation is Ávila but I liked how the Great Vin Scully pronounced it: A-veela…Long life and watching his descendants walk the path that he walked before them should have been rewarding. Farewell Mr. A-veela
I thought it is Avee ya?
AH vee la in Spanish. You need double ell for the y sound (Avilla) but in some Latin American places the y sound is pronounced more like an English j (Ah vee jah). True in Puerto Rico but can’t remember if so in the DR.
A legend. He began working with The Dodgers in 1970, and was the protagonist in the establishment of many baseball academies in the Dominican Republic, including the first of all “Las Palmas”. Known as “The Super Scout”, he’s responsible for the signing of a lot of talents that include Pedro Martínez, Rick Rhoden, Ramón Martínez, Mariano Duncan, Alejandro Peña, Candy Maldonado y Henry Rodríguez.
RIP.
RIP Rafael Ávila.
Our condolences to the family. Opened a door for many young people.
My condolences to Al and the Avila family.
Despite his son, Al’s poor experience as Detroit’s GM, the Avilas are baseball royalty. RIP Ralph Avila.
RIP Legend!
Loved in Dominican Republic RIP
RIP
He and Mike Brito were the best !
He and Mike Brito were the best .