Robert Lara hit .219 across 58 games with the Fort Wayne TinCaps. He went 44-for-201 with 11 doubles, one triple, two homers, 22 runs scored and 28 RBI. He posted a .291 on-base percentage with a 20-to-52 walk-to-strikeout ratio. He stole one base in three attempts and committed seven errors in the field. He hit .230 in 61 at-bats with runners in scoring position and grounded into 11 double plays. Lara threw out 23-of-59 runners attempting to steal, good for 39 percent – the third best mark in the Midwest League amongst all catchers.

Lara also pitched in two games, not allowing a hit or a run, walking two while striking out five.

2008

Lara was named to the Arizona Rookie League post-season All-Star team.

Lara went 54-for-157 across 49 games with the AZL Padres. He hit .344 with three doubles, three homers, 29 runs scored and 34 RBIs. He also drew 37 walks compared to 30 strikeouts, placing third in the league in average and second in on-base percentage (.490).

Lara led all catchers with a .995 fielding percentage and threw out 22-of-67 base runners attempting to steal, a 32.8 percent mark.

Notes:

The San Diego Padres selected Robert Lara in the 19th-round of the 2008 MLB Draft.

Lara was a Johnny Bench Award Watch List honoree in 2008, going .312 at the plate and was the first Knight since 2005 to hit two grand slams in a season. Ironically, the backstop had just three homers on the year. Lara paced UCF with a .358 average in Conference USA games, while he also led all of the league's catchers with five pickoffs. He completed the year with a .986 fielding percentage and threw out 11 would-be base stealers.