CONTINUING to draw interest from both local and overseas baseball programs, Aiden Lazaro of the Ateneo de Manila Junior High School Pony Baseball Team added another trophy to his young thriving career.
A junior national team standout, the 13-year-old Lazaro claimed Best Player of the Game and led the Ateneo-powered Quezon City Hawks to the Babe Ruth League Philippines National Tournament — 14U Division title at The Villages Sports Complex in Pampanga last May.
Lazaro and the Hawks will thus represent the Philippines in the Babe Ruth League World Series in the United States of America this August.
“I think it only took me about the first game to adjust to the tournament and the field,” said Lazaro to The Manila Times.
“For me, it was a great experience. I was able to become the Best Player, especially after everything I’ve been through, all the training and workouts I put in.”
Playing the shortstop and catcher positions, the incoming 8th Grader said he’s excited to test his mettle on the world stage anew, having played in the 2023 Pony League World Series in Virginia, USA.
“I think it’s really good for me to be given the opportunity to play at an international level like this, and I can’t wait to play there,” said Lazaro, who claimed the Most Runs Batted In award at the 2024 U-12 Asian Baseball Championship in Matsuyama, Japan, where the junior national team finished fifth.
Recruitment getting more serious
As Lazaro continues to raise his game, a slew of programs both local and abroad are lining up on his door.
“I’d say I’m flattered that a lot of schools and programs are interested in me, especially since I’m only 13 years old,” said Lazaro, a 2025 Palarong Pambansa elementary boys champion with the National Capital Region.
“I use that as motivation to keep improving whenever I train, to work even harder and to keep striving for more.”
Aiden’s mother, Shelly, said that one of the suitors is a blue-chip baseball program in the US, composed of former Major League Baseball coaches and players.
In a way, the program is comparable to Spain’s Rafa Nadal Academy where Filipino tennis sensation Alexandra “Alex” Eala graduated.
“I like that I’m also able to follow the footsteps of a fellow known Filipino athlete [like Eala, but, at the same time, I also want to make my own decisions, follow my own path, and I also know that I can just strive for better in my own sport,” said Lazaro.
