MEET OUR COACHES

Born in El Tigre, Venezuela, Play Pro Baseball Head Coach Christian Lara began playing coach pitch baseball at the young age of 3 years old. The coach pitching to and teaching that young man was his father, who would, of course, play a hugely significant role throughout all of Christian’s life, but specifically as his main baseball coach until 13 years old. Coach Christian’s early hard work and dedication to baseball, along with his parent’s love and father’s mentorship led to early success in his baseball career, where he represented his state of Bolivar in Venezuelan national competition for 10 years. As a young competitor, Coach Christian would take a second place finish in the Venezuelan National Championship at the age of just 7 and go on to win that championship three times. Coach Christian’s success continued into his time in high school, where in addition to winning his last Venezuelan National Championship at 16U, he competed as a multi-sport athlete in basketball, volleyball, and swimming. But baseball was where a young Christian Lara really shined, and at 14 years old, he began receiving the attention of Major League teams. 

Coach Christian’s first opportunity with a Major League club came in 1999, at 14 years old, with a tryout for the Atlanta Braves in Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela. His professional prospects accelerated quickly from there, and he attended his first Major League Baseball Academy with the Minnesota Twins, at age 15. In 2002, at the age of 17 and with offers from at least half of MLB teams, Coach Christian signed his first professional contract as a Shortstop with the Boston Red Sox organization. He would play in the Red Sox Minor League system from 2004-2008, where his continued hard work and dedication would lead to multiple recognitions and awards (highlights below) and consistent rankings among the Top 20 Prospects with the Red Sox, including a Top 10 (#9) in 2004. In 2008, Coach Christian was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he continued his Minor League development, earning further recognitions and invites to Spring Training camps. Tragically and like all too many hard luck baseball stories, in 2011, Coach Christian’s playing career was upended by a hustle play at the plate, where he broke his ankle sliding into home.

As life stories go, when one door closes, another one opens. Coach Christian brought his same playing ethic to rehabbing his injury at the Dodger’s Spring Training facilities in Phoenix, but sadly, it was not going to be enough to bring him back to playing shape. Never wanting to leave the game he loves so dearly, Coach Christian’s coaching career began as an assistant coach at the Dodger’s rookie ball level in 2013. He continues to have ties to the Dodger’s organization as an assistant scout and the upper levels of baseball through his private academies in Phoenix and Mexico, but just like his father, Coach Christian’s heart lies in developing youth talent. In 2014 he started doing exactly that as a High School Coach with Copper Canyon High School in Phoenix. It was around that same time that he began giving private lessons and working with club baseball teams in The Valley and in 2017, Coach Christian knew it was time to start his own club. Since that beginning, his clubs have taken on different names (AZ Dodgers Factory, Arizona Baseball Academy, Los Cuervos) but ultimately, he wanted his club name to reflect his mission to develop youth players who can go on to achieve their dreams to Play Pro Baseball.

Despite a tragic end to his own dreams of becoming a pro baseball player at the Major League level, Play Pro Baseball Head Coach Christian Lara never lost his love for the game that his father shared with him, his mother’s enthusiasm for life, or the hard work ethic both his parents displayed in supporting his development and baseball career. Coach Christian, emulating his mother’s nurturing spirit, is a caring individual who endears himself immediately to his players. In coaching, developing, and scouting youth players, he strives to share the same love for the game that his father shared with him through his whole life. And to his players, Coach Christian imparts the same knowledge, skill, and work ethic that led to all his personal successes in America’s Great Pastime, with the ultimate goal of helping his youth players achieve their own dreams to Play Pro Baseball.

          Awards and Recognitions

- Venezuelan Youth National Champion (12U, 14U, 16U)

- 2 x Latin Player of the Year (BOS ‘03, ‘04)

- Dominican Summer League All Star (‘03)

- First Team New York/Penn League, Shortstop (BOS ‘04)

- 2 x Minor League Player of the Year (BOS ‘04, ‘06)

- 3 x Minor League All Star (BOS ‘04, ‘06; LAD ‘10)

- 5 x Minor League Best Infielder (BOS ‘04, ‘05, ‘06; LAD ‘08, ‘10)

- 2 x Minor League Best Baserunner (BOS ‘04, ‘06)

- 8 x Spring Training Invite (BOS ‘04 -‘08; LAD ‘09 - ‘11)

Born and raised in Milwaukee, WI, Coach Marc Romero grew up a multi-sport competitor, participating in organized baseball, basketball, soccer, and football from early childhood into high school. Coach Marc remains an avid fan of professional baseball, football, and college basketball, religiously following the Milwaukee Brewers, Green Bay Packers, and Marquette Golden Eagles.

Throughout his years as a competitive athlete, Coach Marc had the privilege to learn from many coaches who not only knew the sports they were teaching, but also taught the values of teamwork, community, and volunteerism. Those coaches had deep focuses on attention to detail and fundamentally clean performance within their sports. Accordingly, Coach Marc’s top goal in teaching the athletes of Play Pro Baseball is to impress upon them a pointed focus on fundamentally clean baseball while growing into model young people and citizens.

Coach Marc further believes there is much to be learned from those in the professional ranks of various sports, businesses, and the military, whether they be players, coaches, announcers, or contributors. Being a diehard fan of multiple sports, a seasoned reader, and a follower of successful professionals means Coach Marc often accesses pictures, game videos, stories, and speeches that have robust educational value to Play Pro’s athletes, both on and off the field. Coach Marc uses those various medias to teach Play Pro’s athletes because he believes there is endless value to be obtained from those who are the best in whatever they do.

Finally, Coach Marc is focused on keeping Play Pro’s athletes mentally prepared for the challenges they face on the field and in life. Like big league ball clubs, he looks to teach various techniques to our players, like breath work, imagery, and relaxation exercises that keep them calm and focused on excelling in the big moment. These same tools carry over into our players’ lives outside of baseball, giving them ways to be successful in school, handling stresses that occur, or resolving conflicts when they arise.

In the newly reorganized Play Pro Baseball, Coach Marc will continue to serve as the club’s webmaster and Assistant Coach to Coach Christian, on an as-needed basis.