Mauricio Lara

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Boston Red Sox #14 prospect in 2002
  It doesn't say much about the Red Sox that two of the best pitchers in their system--Lara and Brad Baker--messed themselves up with offseason weightlifting programs during the 2000-01 offseason. If only Juan Diaz worked that hard. Lara made just four starts last year before back problems shut him down for nearly two months. When he returned, he wasn't the same guy who posted a 1.85 ERA in his first two pro seasons. Before he bulked up, Lara threw in the low 90s and topped out at 94 mph. His curveball gave him a second plus pitch, while his changeup was very much a work in progress. Boston still has high hopes for Lara, who was signed out of Mexico by Lee Sigman, the scout who helped land Teddy Higuera for the Brewers in the mid-1980s. He's on the same path as Baker, trying to rework his body so he can get back on track.
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  Ranked Boston Red Sox #8 prospect in 2001
  Lara may be the best prospect signed by Mexico-based scout Lee Sigman since he helped the Brewers obtain Ted Higuera in the mid-1980s. Though Lara hadn't pitched in the United States before 2000, the Red Sox sent him to Augusta after a month in extended spring training. Lara pitched well in relief before getting more innings as a starter in the New York-Penn League, where he was ranked the No. 5 prospect. Though he's not quite 6 feet tall, Lara has excellent velocity for a lefthander. He throws consistently in the low 90s and can touch 94 mph. His curveball also is above average. Lara has good mound presence and a nice feel for pitching. He didn't permit a homer in 85 NY-P innings. Like many young pitchers, Lara possesses only a rudimentary changeup. If he develops it into an average third pitch, he could rise quickly through the minors. Lara and Song formed a potent lefty-righty 1-2 punch at Lowell and should do the same at Augusta in 2001. Lara's ceiling is higher than that of any Red Sox lefty, including Fossum.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked New York-Penn League #5 prospect in 2000
  When asked to pick the best pitching prospect on a strong Spinners staff, Beyeler went with Lara, who pitched in the Venezuelan Summer League last year. Lara's first season in the United States went swimmingly as he mixed in decent breaking pitches—a plus curveball in the estimation of Massarelli—with a plus fastball, especially for a lefty. He still has work to do with his control. "He's got a very good arm," Saul said. "He shows enough stuff that he can get any batter out. I think he could've pitched the whole game against us with his good fastballs and gotten away with it."

• December, 1999 Scouting Report
  When asked to pick the best pitching prospect on a strong Spinners staff, Beyeler went with Lara, who pitched in the Venezuelan Summer League last year. Lara's first season in the United States went swimmingly as he mixed in decent breaking pitches—a plus curveball in the estimation of Massarelli—with a plus fastball, especially for a lefty. He still has work to do with his control. "He's got a very good arm," Saul said. "He shows enough stuff that he can get any batter out. I think he could've pitched the whole game against us with his good fastballs and gotten away with it."