He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres and Cleveland Guardians.

[1] On December 2, 2016, the Nationals traded Ávila to the San Diego Padres in exchange for Derek Norris.

[2] Ávila split the 2017 season between the Single-A Fort Wayne TinCaps and the High-A Lake Elsinore Storm.

[3] In 2018, he pitched the full season in Lake Elsinore, making 20 starts with a 4.27 ERA and striking out 142 batters in 130+2⁄3 innings.

[4] In a start versus the Arizona Diamondbacks, he went 5+1⁄3 innings and allowed one run while recording five strikeouts in his debut.

[7] Ávila suffered an elbow injury in August and underwent Tommy John surgery in September 2019.

[18] He cleared waivers on January 29 and was sent outright to the Triple-A Columbus Clippers, but rejected the assignment the following day and elected free agency.

[19] On February 14, 2025, Ávila signed a contract with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball.