Alex Avila to 15-day DL; Omar Narvaez called up from Charlotte

Catcher Alex Avila was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring Wednesday, and the White Sox purchased the contract of catcher Omar Narvaez to take his place.

Narvaez, 24, who has no major league experience, was called up from AAA Charlotte. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Sox transferred right-hander Jake Petricka to the 60-day disabled list.

Avila strained the hamstring running out a ground ball in the fourth inning of the Sox’ 9-0 loss to the New York Yankees Tuesday. It’s the same hamstring that landed him on the disabled list in late April.

The left-handed hitting Avila, who doubled off the wall in his first at-bat Tuesday, was batting .279 (19-for-68) with a .395 on-base percentage over his last 20 games.

“I thought maybe it was more of a cramp [initially],” Avila said. “Went out to catch the next inning and going through that inning, I knew that I’d got it just like earlier. Get a MRI in the morning and see the severity.

“Just try to get it healed as quickly as possible.”

The switch-hitting Dioner Navarro, who took Avila’s place Tuesday, will get the bulk of the work behind the plate while Avila is out.

Narvaez is batting .239 with two homers, eight doubles and 16 RBI over 54 games between AA Birmingham and Charlotte this season. He has thrown out 25 percent (12-48) of attempted basestealers, including 8-29 (27.6) with the Knights. He will wear uniform No. 38.

Narvaez is a career .277 hitter a .353 on-base percentage and seven homers, 57 doubles and 170 RBI in 459 games over eight minor-league seasons in the Tampa Bay and Sox organizations. He has thrown out 40.1 percent (161-401) of attempted basestealers.

The Sox picked Narvaez in the minor-league phase of the 2013 Rule 5 draft.