Upcoming Event: Baseball versus Cal State Fullerton on November 8, 2025 at 11 a.m.
Baseball
11 a.m.
vs Cal State Fullerton
Grand Canyon University Athletics
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Jersey Number 13
Daniel Avitia
- Position:
- RHP
- Ht./Wt.:
- 6-4 / 215
- Class:
- Junior
- B/T:
- R/R
- Hometown:
- Phoenix, Ariz.
- HS:
- Alhambra
- Major:
- B.A. in Communications
- Opendorse NIL:
- View profile
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2024 MLB Draft
|
Lopes in the Pros 108th pick View full history |
| Watch | From the neighborhood  Read | Avitia follows brother; ace further builds GCU |
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 Grand Canyon |
Career Summary
- One of the definitive pitching staff aces of GCU's Division I history.
- With 237 strikeouts in 202 innings, ended career with the highest rate of strikeouts per nine innings (10.56) in GCU's all-time history. His tally of 237 strikeouts ranked first in GCU's D-I records and seventh all-time.
- Finished in GCU's all-time top 10 for lowest opponent batting average (.247, 10th all-time, fifth D-I) and fewest walks per nine innings (2.09, eighth all-time, fifth D-I).
- A 17-game winner, tied for fourth in GCU's D-I history.
- Ended career as GCU's only two-time All-WAC first-team pitcher selection (2022, 2023).
- Battled injury through junior campaign, throwing a career-low 35 innings including no appearances between March 15 and April 19.
- Became GCU's D-I career strikeouts leader during an 11-strikeout performance at Stephen F. Austin on March 8, surpassing Nick Hull's mark of 214 strikeouts. The game marked the 17th and final victory of his GCU career.
- Opened season with six innings of one-run baseball and a winning decision in front of the largest crowd in GCU Ballpark history en route to a 5-2 Lopes win over Georgetown.
- Was twice a part of combined shutout efforts with Grant Richardson: April 19 vs. Utah Tech and April 26 at Seattle U.
- Named the WAC Preseason Pitcher of the Year.
- Landed on the All-WAC first team for the second time.
- Ranked third in WAC play in wins (six) and strikeouts (62).
- Did not lose a conference game, going 6-0 for the regular-season champion Lopes. Had a top-10 WAC ERA (4.30) and was fifth in opposing average (.248).
- Ended the season with 192 career strikeouts, needing 15 more to break GCU's D-I era record.
- Named a second-team Preseason All-American by Collegiate Baseball.
- Earned second career WAC Pitcher of the Week honor on April 17 and third career on May 15.
- His 4.26 strikeout-to-walk ratio ranked 58th nationally. His WHIP of 1.16 ranked 76th nationally. His walks per nine of 2.07 was 67th nationally.
- Was the winning pitcher in GCU's victory over No. 2 Tennessee on Feb. 18, appearing for three relief innings and retiring nine of the 10 batters he faced.
- Combined with Isaac Lyon for a shutout win over New Mexico State on March 11, tossing six innings and striking out seven.
- In an April 15 win at Abilene Christian, set a career high with eight innings pitched for his first career complete game.
- Named a Freshman All-American, the fifth in GCU history. Earned the honor from both Collegiate Baseball and Perfect Game.
- Became the WAC's first freshman to win WAC Pitcher of the Year. Was also named the WAC Freshman of the Year and an All-WAC first teamer.
- Earned a spot on the American Baseball Coaches Association / Rawlings NCAA Division I West All-Region second team.
- His strikeout-to-walk ratio of 111-to-19 (5.84) ranked 29th nationally and first in the WAC. The mark of 111 strikeouts was 28th in the country and also led the WAC. His strikeout per nine inning mark 11.85 ranked 47th nationally and led the WAC.
- A WHIP of 1.06 was 38th nationally and best in the WAC.
- Set GCU's single-season strikeouts record for a freshman with 111 (was: 89 by Al Knox in 1954). The mark was also the program's second-best single-season mark at the D-I level regardless of class.
- Led the WAC in fewest hits per nine innings at 7.47.
- In conference play, led the WAC with 80 strikeouts (14 more than the nearest competitor) as well as wins (7) and opponent batting average (.196).
- Eight of his 12 starts were quality starts (six or more innings, three or less runs).
- Named the WAC Pitcher of the Week on March 21 after a winning start vs. Utah Valley of 6 2/3 innings, no earned runs and 11 strikeouts.
- Struck out 14 batters against Sacramento State on May 7, the most in a conference game by a WAC pitcher in 2022 and most by a GCU pitcher since 2004.
- Struck out 12 batters on two occasions: April 9 at Dixie State and May 25 vs. Abilene Christian in the WAC Tournament.
- Began the season in the bullpen but success in long relief forced him into the weekend rotation quickly. The last of three relief apperances came at California Baptist on March 5 where he tossed 5 2/3 scoreless innings with nine strikeouts.
- Ended the season with wins in four of his last five starts.
- Was one of GCU's pitching leaders in fall exhibitions, tossing two scoreless and hitless frames at Cal State Fullerton.
 Summer Leagues |
- 2023: Orleans Firebirds | Cape Cod League | Orleans, Mass. (stats)
  Alhambra HS |
Phoenix, Ariz.  |
- Drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 19th round of the 2021 MLB Draft but elected to come to GCU.
- Had an impressive senior season in 2021, going 8-1 with a 0.84 ERA and pitching his school to the state championship game. In 58 2/3 innings, allowed 34 hits, seven earned runs and struck out 96 while walking only eight.
- Keyed a 2021 Lions' postseason run at the state's highest level (6A) that included a no-hitter against Sunnyslope and a shocking upset over No. 1 Hamilton, which he cites as his top sports memory to date. Was 2-0 with a 1.00 ERA in two postseason starts, striking out 18 and surrendering only five hits and two walks in 14 innings.
- Was a key part of Alhambra's pitching rotation in all four years of high school.
- Finished four-year varsity career 21-9 with a 2.37 ERA. Amassed 165 2/3 innings, striking out 227 and walking 47.
 Personal |
- Parents are Abel Avitia and Emma Duarte.
- Older brother, David, played four seasons of baseball at GCU and was a student coach for the 2022 season. David was signed by the Chicago Cubs as a nondrafted free agent in 2022. He earned All-WAC honorable-mention honors as a senior in 2021 and finished career with over 1,000 innings of work behind the plate. He helped the Lopes win the 2018 and 2021 WAC regular-season titles and 2021 WAC Tournament title.
- Oldest brother, Abel, played baseball at Phoenix College and Cochise College.
- Grew up within blocks of GCU Ballpark, growing up coming to games. Father, Abel, helped construct Global Credit Union Arena. More
- Off the court, enjoys playing basketball with friends.
- Chose GCU because he "loves the atmosphere, coaches and baseball."
- Growing up, he enjoyed watching Max Scherzer, Kyle Hendricks and David Peralta.
GCU Baseball - WAC Tournament vs. Utah Tech - Highlights
Thursday, May 22
Baseball at Stanford - Barreras' game-winning double
Saturday, May 10
Baseball vs. Arizona (5/6/25) - Yorke homers twice to break record
Wednesday, May 07
GCU Baseball - Eli Paton walk-off single vs. UTA
Saturday, April 26
