Dodgers’ Dominican Dandy Avila to Retire at Year’s End

Dodger Vice President Ralph Avila, who presided over the organization’s highly successful Latin American program for more than 20 years, announced Thursday he will retire at the end of the year.

Avila, who signed and helped develop dozens of major leaguers during his 30 years in the organization, will remain with the Dodgers as a special advisor to President Bob Graziano.

Avila, 69, revealed his plans during a party here at Dodgertown for reporters visiting from the Dominican Republic. “It was a very difficult decision for me, but I want to stay with my grandchildren a little more, they need me,” said Avila, who was hired as a part-time scout in 1970. “For sure, I’m going to miss the uniform, but I’m going to stay close to the organization. I’m going to hang around.”

Avila was instrumental in the construction and direction of Campo Las Palmas, the Dodgers’ groundbreaking baseball academy in the Dominican Republic. Avila has been a key figure, both professionally and personally, in the lives of many players who passed through the academy on their way to the big leagues, including Boston Red Sox pitcher Pedro Martinez, who won the 1997 National League Cy Young Award as a member of the Montreal Expos; his brother, Ramon, who is among the Dodgers’ all-time pitching leaders; Dodger outfielder Raul Mondesi; Chicago Cub outfielder Henry Rodriguez and others.

Jaime Jarrin, the Dodgers’ Hall of Fame Spanish-language broadcaster, said Avila’s impact on the organization is incalculable.

“He has found, and polished, so much talent for this organization,” Jarrin said of his longtime friend. “When you consider the names he has brought to the Dodgers, to baseball, it really is incredible.

“I don’t even want to think of where the Dodgers would have been without Ramon and Pedro Martinez, Raul Mondesi, Jose Vizcaino and so many others. Very few people have contributed as much to one baseball organization as Ralph Avila has to the Dodgers.”

Said Vice President Tom Lasorda: “He’s got to be classified as an institution.”

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Right-hander Ismael Valdes was sharp in Thursday’s 9-3 victory over St. Louis, giving up three hits and one unearned run in five innings. He struck out two and walked none.

“That was the best outing of the spring as far as I’m concerned,” Manager Davey Johnson said. “He really hit his spots and pitched efficiently.”