Atlanta Braves Option Luis Avilan to Gwinnett

Left-hander went 3-1 with a 4.85 ERA in 47 games with Atlanta

By Dave Lezotte

July 19, 2014

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA - The Atlanta Braves have optioned left-hander Luis Avilan to Triple-A Gwinnett, announced on Saturday, July 19. Avilan fills the roster spot of outfielder Jose Constanza, who was placed on the Gwinnett disabled list retroactive to July 18 with left foot tendinitis.

Avilan, 25, went 3-1 with a 4.85 ERA (16 ER in 29.2 IP) in 47 relief appearances for Atlanta this season. In 153 outings with the Braves over the past three seasons, he is 9-1 with a 2.41 ERA (35 ER in 130.2 IP).

Signed by the Braves as a non-drafted free agent on August 22, 2005, Avilan made his Major League debut with Atlanta in 2012, posting a 1-0 record with a 2.00 ERA in 31 games. The Caracas, Venezuela native enjoyed a breakout sophomore season in 2013, going 5-0 with a 1.52 ERA and 27 holds in 75 games. He also made his postseason debut last year, going 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA in four appearances during the 2013 NLDS against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Avilan joins Gwinnett for the first time in his career and will make his Triple-A debut with the club. In parts of seven minor league seasons in the Braves organization, he is 21-30 with a 3.42 ERA in 143 games, 53 starts.

Constanza, 30, was batting .281 (87-for-310) with seven doubles, two triples, 44 runs scored, 26 RBIs and 19 stolen bases in 79 games with Gwinnett this season.

The Gwinnett Braves and the Durham Bulls play game three of the four-game series on Saturday night at Coolray Field, first pitch scheduled for 7:05 PM. Right-hander Gus Schlosser (5-5, 4.00) will start for the G-Braves, while the Bulls will counter with right-hander Alex Colome (4-2, 3.86). Tony Schiavone will have the play-by-play call beginning at 6:50 PM on WDUN.com, GwinnettBraves.com, Tune-In Radio and the MiLB First Pitch app. The game will also be televised on the MeTV network, WSB-TV Channel 2.2 with broadcasters Van Earl Wright and Dave Lezotte.

On Saturday, the first 2,000 fans in attendance will receive a Ron Gant Bobblehead courtesy of WAGA Fox 5 Atlanta and Coolray Heating & Cooling. Gant, a former Atlanta Brave and current co-host of Good Day Atlanta on Fox 5, will be on hand to sign autographs and throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Tickets are on sale now at the Coolray Field Ticket Office, call 678-277-0340 or visit GwinnettBraves.com to purchase.