Lara shows some improvement

CLEVELAND -- Juan Lara suffered a spinal fracture and severe brain trauma in a car accident in the Dominican Republic over the weekend, but the Indians left-hander reportedly showed some signs of improvement Tuesday.

Lara, 26, continues to be monitored closely at the Plaza de la Salud hospital in San Pedro de Macoris. A hospital spokesperson told the Associated Press that doctors had not yet determined whether Lara would have any paralysis as a result of his extensive injuries, which also include two fractured ribs, a perforated lung and a blood clot on the brain.

Lino Diaz, the Indians' director of Latin American operations, has been sent to the Dominican to follow Lara's recovery. He reported to the club Tuesday night that the bleeding on Lara's brain continues to diminish and that the pitcher had some movement in his toes, hands and eyes.

The accident occurred late Saturday night, not long after a Winter League game played by Lara's team, Estrellas de Oriente.

Lara was driving a sport utility vehicle and was stopped at an intersection when a motorcycle traveling at high speed slammed into the driver's side, pinning Lara inside the vehicle and instantly killing both of the riders on the motorcycle. Lara's girlfriend also was in the vehicle and was injured.

One of the more promising relievers in the upper ranks of the Indians' Minor League system and a member of the 40-man roster, Lara pitched in one game for the Tribe this past season, working 1 1/3 innings against the Angels on Sept. 4. He spent the rest of the year at Triple-A Buffalo, where he went 4-3 with a 3.88 ERA and two saves in 52 appearances.

In September 2006, Lara made his big league debut and pitched in nine games for the Indians, posting a 1.80 ERA.

Lara was a product of the Indians' Dominican Academy. He was signed by the club out of the academy in 1999.