| Juan Lara | |
| Position: | Relief pitcher |
| Birth Date: | 26 January 1981 |
| Birth Place: | Azua, Dominican Republic |
| Bats: | Right |
| Throws: | Left |
| Debutleague: | MLB |
| Debutdate: | September 8 |
| Debutyear: | 2006 |
| Debutteam: | Cleveland Indians |
| Finalleague: | MLB |
| Finaldate: | September 6 |
| Finalyear: | 2007 |
| Finalteam: | Cleveland Indians |
| Statleague: | MLB |
| Stat1label: | Win–loss record |
| Stat1value: | 0-0 |
| Stat2label: | Earned run average |
| Stat2value: | 4.26 |
| Stat3label: | Strikeouts |
| Stat3value: | 4 |
| Teams: | |
Juan Manuel Lara (born January 26, 1981) is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. He was signed by Cleveland as an amateur free agent in May and was called up to the major league club on September 5, .
Lara played for the Dominican Indians (1999–), Burlington Indians, Mahoning Valley Scrappers, 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 innings. He became a free agent at the end of the season.
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 motorcycle. 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.[1]
On March 12,, Lara was released from the Indians' 40-man roster; he was subsequently re-signed to a minor league contract despite the fact that he was to miss the entire 2008 season. The Indians organization will handle all of Lara's medical expenses.[2]
After wearing a halo vest to support his neck and surgeries on his spine and arms, Lara reported to the Indians' training camp on March 31, 2009.[3]