Tigers' Avila symptom-free after latest concussion: 'I shouldn't have any concern'

Detroit Tigers catcher Alex Avila has steadily improved since suffering his second concussion of 2014 earlier in the month.

The latest, in Game 3 of the American League Division Series against the Baltimore Orioles, came after he was struck in the catcher's mask with a foul ball, forcing him to exit the game in the sixth inning. 

Avila reported good news Monday, however, saying he was symptom-free and would be playing right now if his Tigers were still alive in the postseason. 

"I had a CT scan and an MRI checking my brain and my neck and the arteries leading to it, and everything checks out normal and healthy," Avila told Chris Iott of MLive.com. "And talking with the neurologist that examined everything, I shouldn't have any concern.

"It's like any injury - you have to let it heal 100 percent."

The Tigers hold a $5.4-million club option with a $200,000 buyout on Avila for the 2015 season. 

Avila, who has been concussed multiple times throughout his six-year major league career, hit .218/.327/.359 with 11 homers and 47 RBIs over 124 games.