Padres Fans Almost Brought Pedro Avila to Tears on Tuesday

The road to both get to and stick in the major leagues isn't linear for most.

In comparison to immediate top prospects -- who generally enjoy an assured path to the big leagues and are afforded a sizable leash when they get there -- most players in affiliated professional baseball have many ups and downs throughout their career, and a majority never set foot on an MLB field. 

Pedro Avila was one of the latter. 

He first reached the majors in 2019 with the Padres, just four years after signing with the Washington Nationals as an 18-year-old. 

From there though, it was far from smooth sailing for Avila as he was jettisoned back and forth between Triple-A El Paso and San Diego, pitching for the Padres just four times from 2019 through 2022. 

That's what made Avila's outing on Tuesday so special to him, as the now 26-year-old recorded his first MLB win after throwing 6 2/3 shutout innings in the Padres' 8-0 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. 

That led to Avila getting a standing ovation from Padres fans at Petco Park, a reaction he both wasn't expecting and very much appreciated. 

“Honestly, I don’t know that I ever expected that type of reception,” Avila said through interpreter Danny Sanchez. “That’s something that you hope for and dream for, and to be honest, I almost cried.”

via Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune

And as for his first career victory, Avila was proud of himself after the long, winding road he's been on up until yesterday. 

“It feels great; it feels excellent,” he said. “You know, it cost a little bit of time but it feels good to be here now.”

via the San Diego Union-Tribune

Pedro Avila is here, and he now has the firm, tangible satisfaction of a win that comes with it.