Juan Lara
Encyclopedia
Juan Manuel Lara is a Major League Baseball
relief pitcher
in the Cleveland Indians
organization. He was signed by Cleveland as an amateur free agent
in May and was called up to the major league club on September 5, .
, Lake County Captains
(2003), Kinston Indians
(–), Akron Aeros
(2005–), and Buffalo Bisons
(-2007). He worked as a starting pitcher
from 2000 through the first half of 2003 and has worked primarily out of the bullpen
since then compiling a minor league record of 24-28, 16 saves, a 3.96 ERA and 443 strike outs in 509⅔ innings. He became a free agent at the end of the season.
. Both occupants of the motorcycle were killed instantly, while Lara was taken to a Dominican Republic hospital with life-threatening injuries, including broken ribs, a broken D2 vertebra and possible brain damage. His injuries were considered to be possibly career-ending.
On March 12, , Lara was released from the Indians' 40-man roster; he was subsequently resigned to a minor league contract despite the fact that he will miss the entire 2008 season. The Indians organization will handle all of Lara's medical expenses.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
in the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
organization. He was signed by Cleveland as an amateur free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
in May and was called up to the major league club on September 5, .
Minor league Career
Since 1999, Lara has played for the Dominican Indians (1999–), Burlington Indians , Mahoning Valley ScrappersMahoning Valley Scrappers
The Mahoning Valley Scrappers are a minor league baseball club based in Niles, Ohio, a city in the valley of the Mahoning River. The Scrappers play in the Pinckney Division of the Short-Season A classification New York - Penn League and are affiliated with the Cleveland Indians Major League...
, Lake County Captains
Lake County Captains
The Lake County Captains are a minor league baseball team in Eastlake, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland. The team, a Class A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians, plays in the Midwest League....
(2003), Kinston Indians
Kinston Indians
The Kinston Indians were a minor league baseball team of the Carolina League , and the High-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. They were located in Kinston, North Carolina, and were named for their parent club...
(–), Akron Aeros
Akron Aeros
The Akron Aeros are a minor league baseball team based in Akron, Ohio, USA. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians.The Aeros play in Canal Park, located in downtown Akron, which seats 9,097 fans...
(2005–), and Buffalo Bisons
Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...
(-2007). He worked as a starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
from 2000 through the first half of 2003 and has worked primarily out of the bullpen
Bullpen
In baseball, the bullpen is the area where relief pitchers warm-up before entering a game. Depending on the ballpark, it may be situated in foul territory along the baselines or just beyond the outfield fence. Also, a team's roster of relief pitchers is metonymically referred to as "the bullpen"...
since then compiling a minor league record of 24-28, 16 saves, a 3.96 ERA and 443 strike outs in 509⅔ innings. He became a free agent at the end of the season.
Accident
Lara was involved in a serious automobile accident on the night of November 24, 2007 in his homeland of the Dominican Republic. His car was struck at an intersection by a motorcycleMotorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
. Both occupants of the motorcycle were killed instantly, while Lara was taken to a Dominican Republic hospital with life-threatening injuries, including broken ribs, a broken D2 vertebra and possible brain damage. His injuries were considered to be possibly career-ending.
On March 12, , Lara was released from the Indians' 40-man roster; he was subsequently resigned to a minor league contract despite the fact that he will miss the entire 2008 season. The Indians organization will handle all of Lara's medical expenses.