LAS VEGAS -- For the second time this season, the Brewers are investing big in a player who has yet to step foot in the Major Leagues.
The latest prospect from Milwaukee’s top-ranked farm system to get a major payday is 21-year-old, switch-hitting outfielder Luis Lara (the Brewers' No. 5 prospect, No. 91 overall), who has agreed to a seven-year contract covering 2026-32 with three club options for 2033-35, the club announced on Tuesday. The contract will guarantee about $31 million when finalized, a source told MLB.com, though the club did not confirm the value.
Lara’s agreement positions the native of San Felipe, Venezuela -- alongside Jackson Chourio and Cooper Pratt -- as Brewers phenoms who were locked down on long-term contracts while they were still Minor Leaguers, making Tuesday another proud day for Brewers’ director of international player evaluation and global cross-checker Luis Pérez.
“I still remember the first time we saw Luis Lara in Bogotá, Colombia, during a trip that [international scouting director] Taylor Green and I made," said Pérez. "His talent, athleticism and overall ability on both sides of the ball were immediately evident. Later, when he traveled to Venezuela, the entire scouting staff was very impressed as soon as they saw him.
“Throughout the evaluation process, our scouting staff, together with a front office that has always supported us, came to the conclusion that Luis Lara had the potential to become a special player, despite his smaller frame at the time.”
COMPLETE BREWERS PROSPECT COVERAGE
Yes, Lara is on the small side at 5-foot-7, but he’s played big this season and now has the contract to match. According to a Brewers source, it maxes out at $78 million with all incentives, including for MVP Awards, and could realistically net north of $63 million if all of the options are exercised and Lara performs at a star level over the course of the deal.
First, however, he will have to earn his way to the big leagues. While the contract immediately placed him on Milwaukee’s 40-man roster (the Brewers shifted injured reliever Brian Fitzpatrick to the 60-day injured list to clear a spot), it does not mean an immediate callup.
Lara’s agreement comes two months after the Brewers and Pratt (Milwaukee's No. 4 prospect, No. 63 overall) signed an eight-year deal north of $50 million in April, and two and a half years after the Brewers and Chourio inked an eight-year, $82 million pact at the 2023 Winter Meetings that set a record for a player who had yet to appear in MLB, and set the stage for a number of similar agreements across the sport.
It’s been a breakout season for Lara, who has transformed from a speed, defense and contact player into a power threat, with a .947 OPS, 17 extra-base hits and 18 stolen bases in his first 56 games with Triple-A Nashville. Lara has a .733 OPS and 144 stolen bases over five seasons in Milwaukee’s system.
“It’s hard not to be high on him,” said Brewers manager Pat Murphy. “He plays with passion. He’s not a big guy, but he plays like he is a big guy. It’s fun to watch him play.
“He, like Jackson, has a smile on his face. He exudes passion. Switch-hitter. Yeah, he’s got a future.”
Arnold said the Brewers had pondered a long-term deal with Lara “for a while,” but didn’t get down to business until Arnold visited Nashville earlier this season. It was negotiated between the Brewers and Lara’s representatives at Octagon.
News of the extension explains Lara’s recent absence from the Nashville lineup while the finishing touches were put on the deal. He was in Milwaukee over the weekend for a physical exam.
On Tuesday night, he was back in the lineup with his Triple-A teammates, only to be delayed by rain. It was a minor annoyance for a player with many games ahead in the Brewers system.
“What has always stood out about Luis is not only his talent, but also his character,” said Pérez. “He is humble, hard-working, and dedicated to his craft. We have always had high expectations for him, and we are excited to continue watching his growth and success in the years ahead.”