la ▁( born ▁August ▁ 9 , ▁ 1 9 8 0 ) ▁is ▁an ▁American ▁professional ▁baseball ▁coach . ▁He ▁is ▁the ▁hitting ▁coach ▁for ▁the ▁Minnesota ▁Tw ins ▁of ▁Major ▁League ▁Baseball ▁( ML B ). ▁ ▁Career ▁V are la ▁attended ▁San ▁Gabriel ▁High ▁School ▁in ▁San ▁Gabriel , ▁California . ▁He ▁was ▁draft ed ▁by ▁the ▁Detroit ▁Tig ers ▁in ▁the ▁ 3 8 th ▁round ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 8 ▁ML B ▁draft , ▁but ▁did ▁not ▁sign ▁and ▁attended ▁Los ▁Angeles ▁City ▁College ▁and ▁California ▁State ▁University , ▁Long ▁Beach . ▁He ▁was ▁draft ed ▁by ▁the ▁Chicago ▁White ▁So x ▁in ▁the ▁ 3 1 st ▁round ▁of ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 2 ▁ML B ▁draft . ▁▁ ▁V are la ▁played ▁in ▁the ▁White ▁So x , ▁Arizona ▁Diam ond back s , ▁and ▁Florida ▁Mar l ins ▁organizations ▁from ▁ 2 0 0 2 ▁through ▁ 2 0 0 6 . ▁V are la ▁joined ▁the ▁Pitts burgh ▁Pir ates ▁organization ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 8 . ▁He ▁served ▁as ▁a ▁coach ▁for ▁the ▁G CL ▁Pir ates ▁( 2 0 0 8 ), ▁West ▁Virginia ▁Power ▁( 2 0 0 9 , ▁ 2 0 1 0 , ▁and ▁ 2 0 1 2 ), ▁State ▁College ▁Sp ikes ▁( 2 0 1 1 ), ▁and ▁Brad ent on ▁Mar aud ers ▁( 2 0 1 3 ). ▁He ▁served ▁as ▁the ▁manager ▁of ▁the ▁Br istol ▁Pir ates