Christian Lara (baseball)

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Christian Y. Lara (born April 11. 1985 in El Tigre, Venezuela) is an infielder in Minor League Baseball who plays for the Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino in the High-A California League. He is a Switch hitter and throws right-handed.

1 Professional career
- 1.1 Rookie League
- 1.2 Class A League
2 External links

[edit] Professional career

Lara was signed as an International Free Agent by the Boston Red Sox in July of 2002.

[edit] Rookie League

Lara started his professional career in 2003 with the DSL Red Sox in the Dominican Summer League. He batted .273 with 24 stolen bases, no home runs, and 22 RBIs in 65 games. He was voted 2003 DSL Red Sox Player Of The Year. In 2004, he started the year with the GCL Red Sox of the Gulf Coast League. Through 15 Games, he was batting .433 with 8 stolen bases and 8 doubles. He immediately received a promotion to the Short-Season Class A Lowell Spinners, where he spent the rest of 2004, 32 games, batting .277 with 10 stolen bases and 10 RBIs. He received the 2004 Gulf Coast League Red Sox Player of the Year.

[edit] Class A League

Lara played 2005 with the Red Sox's South Atlantic League Class A affiliate, Greenville Drive. In 112 games played, he batted .232 with 14 doubles, 31 RBIs, and 8 stolen bases. He was the Red Sox Minor League Defensive Player of the Month for July 2005. He played 2006 with Greenville again and in 106 games, he batted .259 with 16 doubles, 35 RBIs, and 33 stolen bases. He was named Red Sox Minor League Base Stealer of the Month for April 2006. In 2007, Lara earned a promotion to the Class A Advanced League Lancaster JetHawks of the California League. He batted .238, with 1 stolen base, 18 doubles, 7 triples, 53 RBIs, and 9 home runs (A Career High) in what would end up being his last season in the Boston organization. He was named the Red Sox Minor League Base Runner of the Month for July 2007. In the offseason, he played for Leones del Caracas in the Venezuelan Winter League. In 19 Games for Caracas, he batted .224, stole 4 bases, hit 1 double, and knocked in 5 RBIs. After starting out 2008 in Lancaster, batting 3 for 8 (One hit a single, one a double, and one a home run) with no stolen bases and 2 RBIs, he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for pitcher Eric Hull. He was assigned to Advanced Class A Inland Empire.