After struggling for years, Andry Lara looks like he might finally be living up to his $1.25 million price tag
Andry Lara, signed in 2019, was highly regarded as an international prospect. After signing for $1.25 million out of Venezuela, he was considered one of the top pitchers in his class, ranking 21st overall and second among pitchers by MLB Pipeline.
The now 22-year-old has faced some challenges, but 2024 marked a breakout year for him. Pitching between high-A and double-A, Lara threw 134.2 innings with a 3.34 ERA and 132 strikeouts. This was his first season with an ERA under 4, earning him a spot back on the prospect radar.
His impressive performance led Mike Rizzo to add Lara to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft, increasing the likelihood of his major league debut this season. However, due to the crowded rotation, Lara may be more likely to take on a bullpen role.
Lara’s standout pitch is a power slider in the mid-80s, which behaves more like a gyro slider than a sweeper, diving sharply as it nears the plate. He has excellent command of the pitch, making it a potent weapon. If he transitions to the bullpen, this pitch would likely become his primary offering.
Lara’s fastball is reliable, though not particularly impressive. It’s a sinker that typically sits around 92-94 MPH. There was initial hope that his velocity would increase as an international prospect, but that hasn’t materialized. It will be interesting to see if there’s more speed available in shorter outings. He also has a changeup, but with its velocity in the upper 80s, it doesn’t offer much separation from his fastball. Overall, Lara is primarily a sinker/slider pitcher.
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Following his strong 2024 season and addition to the 40-man roster, Lara is a player to keep an eye on. It will be worth watching him in Spring Training to see if he’s made any further strides. He will likely start the season in AAA, and could be one of the first options called up in case of injury. His spot on the 40-man roster and the fact that he has plenty of options make it easier to bring him up when needed.
A year ago, it seemed like Lara might not even reach AAA, but now a major league debut in 2025 looks very possible. Even if he doesn’t develop into a star, simply producing a big leaguer from the international free agent market is a success. While several other highly touted Nationals international prospects have struggled, Lara appears to have legitimate big league potential.
