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Tigers catcher Alex Avila is going to be placed on the seven-day concussion disabled list, the club announced Sunday.
Avila was hit on the facemask by a foul tip in Cleveland last week and was checked out Thursday. He then passed tests Friday morning and played Saturday, but after the game felt light-headed and some nausea.
Avila's teammates and opponents alike believe Avila takes more foul tips off the mask than any other catcher in baseball due to the Tigers' pitching staff having so many pitchers with plus stuff and late movement. Hitters have trouble centering the ball, and thus, foul balls nail Avila's mask.
"He takes more of a beating than any catcher I've ever seen," Jim Leyland said (via CBSSports.com's Danny Knobler).
"Every team we play, I hear, 'man, you get hit more than anybody," Avila said Friday (via Knobler).
Avila, 26, is hitting .198/.288/.340 with nine doubles, nine homers and 36 RBI this season.
As a corresponding move, catcher Bryan Holaday will join the active roster. Brayan Pena will get the majority of the starts behind the plate with Avila out.
