Xavier Avery

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Xavier Avery

| image = Xavier Avery on May 15, 2012.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Avery with the Baltimore Orioles

| team =

| number =

| position = Outfielder

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1990|1|1}}

| birth_place = Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.

| bats = Left

| throws = Left

| debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = May 13

| debutyear = 2012

| debutteam = Baltimore Orioles

|finalleague=MLB

|finaldate=October 1

|finalyear=2012

|finalteam=Baltimore Orioles

| statleague = MLB

| statyear =

| stat1label = Batting average

| stat1value = .223

| stat2label = Home runs

| stat2value = 1

| stat3label = Runs batted in

| stat3value = 6

| stat4label = Stolen bases

| stat4value = 6

| teams =

Baltimore Orioles ({{By|2012}})

}}

Xavier Tyrone Avery (born January 1, 1990) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for one season with the Baltimore Orioles in 2012.

Career

=Baltimore Orioles=

Avery attended Cedar Grove High School in Ellenwood, Georgia. He initially committed to play college football for the Georgia Bulldogs.{{cite news|last1=Ching|first1=David|title=MLB draft, UGA signees no strangers|url=http://www.espn.com/colleges/georgia/story/_/id/8004423/mlb-draft-often-sees-georgia-bulldogs-signees-selected-early|access-date=27 January 2018|work=ESPN.com|publisher=ESPN|date=June 4, 2012}} The Baltimore Orioles drafted Avery in the second round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft.

Avery was called up to the majors for the first time on May 13, 2012.{{cite web|last=Connolly |first=Dan |url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-xavier-avery-likely-to-be-promoted-to-orioles-20120512,0,381071.story |title=Xavier Avery likely to be promoted to Orioles |publisher=Baltimoresun.com |date=May 12, 2012 |access-date=August 30, 2013}} The following day, he scored his first major league run and collected his first double, triple and RBI. He hit his first career home run on June 29, 2012 against the Cleveland Indians. The Orioles optioned Avery to Norfolk in July,{{cite news|date=July 12, 2012|first=Dan |last=Connolly |url=http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2012-07-12/sports/bal-orioles-xavier-avery-20120712_1_triple-a-norfolk-xavier-avery-orioles |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130407082720/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2012-07-12/sports/bal-orioles-xavier-avery-20120712_1_triple-a-norfolk-xavier-avery-orioles |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 7, 2013 |title=Xavier Avery | Orioles send Xavier Avery to Triple-A Norfolk |newspaper=The Baltimore Sun |access-date=August 30, 2013}} and recalled him again September 1 when the team's roster expanded {{cite news|date=August 31, 2012|first=Eduardo A. |last=Encina |newspaper=The Baltimore Sun |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2012/08/31/xavier-avery-and-luis-exposito-with-orioles-in-new-york/ |title=Xavier Avery and Luis Exposito with Orioles in New York |access-date=August 30, 2013}}

=Seattle Mariners=

On August 30, 2013, the Orioles traded Avery to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for Michael Morse.{{cite web|last=Baker |first=Geoff |url=http://blogs.seattletimes.com/mariners/2013/08/30/michael-morse-as-expected-traded-to-the-orioles/ |title=Michael Morse, as expected, traded to the Orioles | Mariners blog | Seattle Times |publisher=Blogs.seattletimes.com |access-date=August 30, 2013}} He was designated for assignment on March 28, 2014 and subsequently outrighted to the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers, where he finished the season.

=Detroit Tigers=

On November 21, 2014, Avery signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers.{{cite web| url = http://m.tigers.mlb.com/news/article/102117000/tigers-add-outfielder-xavier-avery-on-minors-deal | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141124193357/http://m.tigers.mlb.com/news/article/102117000/tigers-add-outfielder-xavier-avery-on-minors-deal | url-status = dead | archive-date = November 24, 2014 | title = Tigers add outfielder Avery on Minors deal | publisher = MLB | first = Jason | last = Beck | date = November 21, 2014 | access-date = November 21, 2014 }} He was released on July 1, 2015 after exercising an opt-out in his contract.{{cite web| url = http://www.mlive.com/tigers/index.ssf/2015/07/detroit_tigers_release_xavier.html | title = Detroit Tigers release Xavier Avery after outfielder exercises opt-out in contract | publisher = MLive | first = James | last = Schmehl | date = July 2, 2015 | access-date = July 2, 2015 }}

=San Francisco Giants=

On July 3, 2015, Avery signed a minor league deal with the San Francisco Giants. He was released on July 21.

=Minnesota Twins=

On July 26, 2015, Avery signed with the Minnesota Twins. He completed the season on the roster of their Triple-A Rochester Red Wings.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/averyxa01.shtml|title=Xavier Avery Stats|website=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=December 5, 2021}}

=Baltimore Orioles (second stint)=

On December 15, 2015, Avery signed a minor league deal to return to the Baltimore Orioles organization. Playing in 101 games for the Triple-A Norfolk Tides, Avery hit .248/.332/.363 with 6 home runs, 19 RBI, and 18 stolen bases. He elected free agency following the season on November 7, 2016.{{Cite web|title=Minor League Free Agents 2016|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2016/?amphtml|access-date=2023-05-29|website=baseballamerica.com|language=en}}

=Atlanta Braves=

On January 23, 2017, Avery signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/xavier-avery-signs-minor-league-deal-with-braves/|title=Xavier Avery: Signs minor league deal with Braves|work=cbssports.com|date=January 23, 2017|access-date=January 24, 2017}} He re-signed with the team after the 2017 season ended.

Avery spent the 2018 season with the Triple–A Gwinnett Braves, hitting .261/.356/.365 with four home runs, 19 RBI, and nine stolen bases. He elected free agency following the season on November 2, 2018.{{Cite web|title=Minor League Free Agents 2018|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2018/|access-date=April 30, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|language=en}}