Aiden Lazaro has become the first homegrown Filipino baseball talent to join IMG Academy, marking a historic milestone for Philippine baseball and a major step forward in the 13-year-old’s pursuit of a Major League Baseball career.

The Ateneo Junior High School standout and national junior team player recently completed the first phase of his long-term development program at IMG’s 600-acre campus in Bradenton, Florida, training under former Major League and professional league coaches, players, and scouts.

IMG Academy is one of the world’s premier sports training institutions. Its alumni list includes MLB standouts James Wood and Chris Perez, this year’s No. 6 overall draft pick Zion Rose, and tennis legends Serena and Venus Williams, Andre Agassi, and Maria Sharapova.

Lazaro’s Journey Mirrors Alex Eala’s Path to Global Stardom

Lazaro’s path bears a striking resemblance to that of Filipino tennis star Alex Eala, who is represented by IMG Tennis Management, a sister brand of IMG Academy.

Both athletes started their sports young before committing to elite international training at age 13. Eala went to the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, Spain, while Lazaro has now made his way to IMG Academy in Florida.

IMG’s decision to recruit Lazaro reflects confidence in his long-term potential, built on years of consistent development in the local and regional baseball circuit.

While at IMG, Lazaro also gained access to the academy’s Performance & Sports Science Center, which oversees strength and conditioning, speed and agility, mobility, injury prevention, recovery, nutrition, and mental performance.

“I’m excited to immerse myself in a new training environment and learn from everyone at IMG Academy who helped develop some of the top athletes and professional players,” Lazaro said. “I look forward to bringing home everything I gain from this so I could contribute more to my teams in the Philippines.”

“I’m very thankful to IMG Academy for welcoming me into its baseball and holistic athletic training program and for working closely with my mom over the past few months to help create exciting opportunities for my future,” he added. “I’m humbled by this privilege, and I’m ready to work hard to make the most of it.”

A Record-Setting Prospect With Ateneo and the National Team

Lazaro’s rise has been building for years. He has been a member of the Ateneo de Manila baseball varsity since kindergarten, at age 5, and has served as team captain across multiple age divisions.

Last school year, he earned a spot on Ateneo’s UAAP Juniors roster as a Grade 7 student, becoming the youngest player ever to compete in the UAAP. He is also a gold medalist in primary baseball with the National Capital Region at the 2025 Palarong Pambansa.

Representing the Philippine U12 National Team in 2024, Lazaro won the Most RBI Award at the Asian Baseball Championship in Japan.

Now a Grade 8 student at Ateneo, Lazaro will continue to serve as team captain of its Baseball Pony Division and represent his school and country in local and international competitions.

Lazaro and his mother, Shelly, will shuttle between Manila and Florida for the next phases of his development program. His IMG coaches will monitor his progress through online coaching while he is in Manila, with in-person training scheduled during semestral breaks and school holidays.

The arrangement is designed to ensure his training complements — rather than interferes with — his academic studies and baseball commitments at Ateneo de Manila University, as he continues working toward his goal of one day playing in the MLB.