Avilán signed with the Atlanta Braves as an international free agent in 2005 and he began his professional career the following year with the Braves affiliate in the Dominican Summer League. In 2008, he joined the Gulf Coast Braves, his first assignment to a domestic team. He was the GCL Braves pitcher of the month for August when he had a 2.93 ERA in three starts. In 2009, he was promoted to the Danville Braves of the Appalachian League, where he made 14 appearances, including three starts and had a 3.05 ERA with two saves. In 2010, he made 41 appearances between the Rome Braves of the South Atlantic League and the Myrtle Beach Pelicans of the Carolina League and was a combined 6–4 with a 4.33 ERA in 41 games. He also saved nine games that season as the closer for Myrtle Beach. In 2011, with the Mississippi Braves of the Southern League, he was 4–8 with a 4.57 ERA in 36 appearances, including 13 starts.\n', '

The Braves added him to their 40-man roster after the 2011 season to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. He began the 2012 season in Mississippi, where he was 3–6 with a 3.23 ERA 16 games (12 starts). He was promoted to the Triple-A Gwinnett Braves of the International League on July 4, 2012, but did not make an appearance for them.\n', '

On July 5, 2012, Avilán was called up by the Braves to replace the injured Jonny Venters. He made his first appearance on July 14 against the New York Mets, striking out the only batter he faced (Ike Davis). His first career win came on October 3 against the Pittsburgh Pirates on the final day of the season. In 31 appearances that season for the Braves, he had an ERA of 2.00.\n', '

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