Luinder Avila
P | Bats/Throws: R/R | 6' 3" 195LBS | Age: 23
MLB Pipeline Rank
ROYALS: No. 26 |
W L ERA G GS SV IP SO WHIP
2024 6 5 3.81 19 19 0 82.2 82 1.38
Career Minors 21 32 4.42 102 79 1 413.2 374 1.31
G W-L ERA IP SO WHIP
2024 19 6-5 3.81 82.2 82 1.38
Career Minors 102 21-32 4.42 413.2 374 1.31
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Standard Minor League Pitching Statistics

SeasonTmLGLWLERAGGSSVIPHRERHRBBSOWHIP
2018 DSL Royals 1 DSL ROK 1 2 3.18 9 2 1 22.2 15 16 8 0 11 20 1.15
2019 DSL Royals 2 DSL ROK 1 2 6.41 12 2 0 26.2 25 19 19 1 16 22 1.54
2021 3 Teams Minors 3 6 4.66 14 10 0 58.0 49 35 30 3 17 51 1.14
2021 ACL Royals Blue ACL ROK 0 0 16.88 1 0 0 2.2 5 5 5 0 2 1 2.63
2021 ACL Royals Gold ACL ROK 1 2 4.03 7 4 0 29.0 17 14 13 3 9 26 0.90
2021 2 Teams ROK 1 2 5.12 8 4 0 31.2 22 19 18 3 11 27 1.04
2021 Columbia Fireflies A E A 2 4 4.10 6 6 0 26.1 27 16 12 0 6 24 1.25
2022 Columbia Fireflies CAR A 6 10 4.54 26 26 0 115.0 102 66 58 10 49 97 1.31
2023 Quad Cities River Bandits MID A+ 4 7 4.39 22 20 0 108.2 101 57 53 3 44 102 1.33
2024 Northwest Arkansas Naturals TEX AA 6 5 3.81 19 19 0 82.2 71 36 35 4 43 82 1.38
Northwest Arkansas Naturals TEX AA 6 5 3.81 19 19 0 82.2 71 36 35 4 43 82 1.38
Quad Cities River Bandits MID A+ 4 7 4.39 22 20 0 108.2 101 57 53 3 44 102 1.33
Columbia Fireflies CAR A 8 14 4.46 32 32 0 141.1 129 82 70 10 55 121 1.30

Scouting Report

2024

Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40

Avila was just 16 years old when the Royals signed him during the 2018 international signing period out of Venezuela. He’s flown under the radar since then, throwing at the Royals’ Dominican Academy in ‘18 and ‘19 before making his stateside debut in ‘21, pitching in Rookie ball for most of the year. Avila has pitched 223 2/3 innings in the last two seasons -- third-most in the Royals' system -- and had similar years stats-wise. In 2023, he had a 4.39 ERA in High-A Quad Cities with a 21.6% strikeout rate and 9.3% walk rate.

At 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, Avila attacks hitters with a 92-95 mph fastball that cuts and has some ride to it. When the Royals signed Avila, he was around 87-89 mph with that pitch, and they think he’ll continue to add velocity, though command remains a work in progress. Avila’s slider is average and has the potential to be an out pitch for him, sometimes looping but with good spin. He throws a tumbling changeup that is near average now but shows signs of being plus with more development. 

Innings are valuable, and evaluators have taken notice of Avila’s durability and growth. Officials rave about his competitiveness, work ethic and knowledge on the mound. Avila has a repeatable delivery, and his ceiling is likely a back-end starter type who could fill different roles later in his career. He spent this past offseason working out in Arizona and seems primed for the Double-A rotation in ‘24.


2023

Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40

Avila was just 16 years old when the Royals signed him in March 2018 out of Venezuela. He’s flown under the radar since then, throwing at the Royals’ Dominican Academy in 2018 and '19 before making his stateside debut in '21, pitching in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League for most of the year. Avila spent his entire age-20 season in Single-A Columbia and logged 115 innings -- by far the team high -- in 2022. His results were varied with a 4.54 ERA, 97 strikeouts and 49 walks, but he’s no longer under the radar because of the stuff he showed.

At 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, Avila showed up last year having physically matured with a good presence on the mound. He attacks hitters with a 92-95 mph fastball that cuts and has some ride to it. When the Royals signed him, he was around 87-89 mph with that pitch, and they think he’ll continue to add velocity. Avila’s mid-80s slider is average and has the potential to be an out pitch for him, sometimes looping but with good spin, and he also showcases a more traditional 12-to-6 curveball in the upper-70s that flashes above-average. He throws a tumbling changeup that is near-average now but shows signs of being plus with more development. His fastball command is still a work in progress and has been an emphasis since the start of 2022.

Innings are valuable, and evaluators took notice of Avila’s durability and growth last season. Officials rave about his knowledge on the mound, competitiveness and work ethic, noting he has improved every year since they signed him as a teen. Avila has a higher floor because of his repeatable delivery and ability to pitch innings, and his ceiling is likely as a back-end-starter type who could fill different roles later in his career. In 2023, he’s remained a groundball-heavy starter at High-A Quad Cities, building on last year’s gains.



Awards




Transactions

Team Date Transaction
08/27/2024 Northwest Arkansas Naturals activated RHP Luinder Avila from the 7-day injured list.
07/12/2024 Northwest Arkansas Naturals placed RHP Luinder Avila on the 7-day injured list retroactive to July 10, 2024.
04/03/2024 RHP Luinder Avila assigned to Northwest Arkansas Naturals from Quad Cities River Bandits.
03/14/2024 RHP Luinder Avila assigned to Kansas City Royals Prospects.
02/27/2024 RHP Luinder Avila assigned to Kansas City Royals.
06/28/2023 Quad Cities River Bandits activated RHP Luinder Avila from the 7-day injured list.
06/22/2023 Quad Cities River Bandits placed RHP Luinder Avila on the 7-day injured list retroactive to June 16, 2023.
04/05/2023 RHP Luinder Avila assigned to Quad Cities River Bandits from Columbia Fireflies.
08/17/2021 RHP Luinder Avila assigned to Columbia Fireflies from ACL Royals Gold.
07/03/2021 RHP Luinder Avila assigned to ACL Royals Gold from ACL Royals Blue.
07/02/2021 RHP Luinder Avila assigned to ACL Royals Blue from ACL Royals Gold.
06/27/2021 RHP Luinder Avila assigned to ACL Royals 2 from DSL Royals1.
10/09/2019 RHP Luinder Avila assigned to DSL Royals1 from DSL Royals2.
05/31/2019 RHP Luinder Avila assigned to DSL Royals2.
06/01/2018 RHP Luinder Avila assigned to DSL Royals1.
03/03/2018 Kansas City Royals signed free agent RHP Luinder Avila to a minor league contract.