Los Angeles Dodgers: Call Me Crazy – Yasiel Puig Could Play 3B

With insane athletic ability, Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig will always have the aura of potential circling around his head.

Yasiel Puig has been the most entertaining, and head-scratching, player since his arrival in 2013. In Puig’s first month with the Los Angeles Dodgers , June of 2013, he arguably produced one of the best months in recent memory. Batting .436, Puig garnered 44 hits in only 26 games with 7 home runs and 16 runs batted in. Whether it was his game winning throw in his debut, or his two home run game the very next day to win the game, Yasiel Puig set the baseball world on fire.

Now, well Puig has seen his production dip. Puig has played only 183 games combined in the last two seasons, 69 less than the first two years of his career. Whether it was due to injury or being sent to the minors, Puig has been extremely inconsistent at the big league level.

However, Yasiel Puig is still only 25 years old. A lot of people forget truly how young he is due to his fast rise to the big leagues. In fact, there are only seven players younger than Puig that are ahead of him in Wins Above Replacement since the beginning of the 2013 season. Those players, Christian Yelich, Mookie Betts, Kris Bryant, Nolan Arenado, Bryce Harper, Manny Machado, and Mike Trout are the cream of the MLB crop. Puig ranks 60th in WAR since the start of the 2013 season. Considering that Puig hasn’t been a part of 213 of 648 games since that date, he arguably has been one of baseball’s best young players.

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The problem is, Los Angeles’ outfield is filled with young players. Andrew Toles, Joc Pederson, and Trayce Thompson join veteran Andre Either as Puig’s competition. With Puig’s antics and inconsistency, it is hard for him to argue his case. However, there may be a hole in Los Angeles, and that hole is at third base.

If the Dodgers fail to resign Justin Turner, they won’t have a big league third baseman. They have no MLB ready third basemen in their farm, and while Corey Seager naturally seems fit for that spot, his shortstop production has been great. That is where Yasiel Puig comes in.

The Los Angeles Dodgers aren’t strangers to moving players to odd positions. They transformed Kenley Jansen from a catcher to the dominant closer he is today. Howie Kendrick transitioned to a left fielder last season after playing only 26 games there his entire career before then. Puig may be the next to make an odd move.

Since 2013, Puig has always showcased his freak athletic ability. He has a tremendous arm and, often underrated, speed. Making a move to third base wouldn’t be too far-fetched to imagine. He definitely has the arm for third, and would just need practice fielding the position. People don’t realize that these big league players have been playing baseball their entire lives. The chances that at some point in Yasiel Puig’s life he has played third base is astronomically high. Yes, amateur third base doesn’t compare to the MLB. However, the groundwork is there and Puig is a natural athlete than can make the switch.

If Puig can further his maturity, and consistently get at bats we may see his numbers rise yet again. I think Puig gets a bad reputation, yes at times he doesn’t respect the game of baseball and shows immaturity. However, Puig is just a kid. He is twenty-five years old, and he has only been in the United States for no more than four years. Puig is still learning the way baseball is played here, because despite it being “America’s Pastime,” the game of baseball is played differently all around the world.

Being a consistent every day starter would certainly help Puig. A potential move to third base can provide that, as there is just too many guys in the outfield. Instead of platooning in the outfield, Puig can slowly regain form being an everyday starter. The Los Angeles Dodgers must be patient with Puig; it’s hard to have an instant turn around when you’re not seeing big league pitching at a consistent rate. Yasiel is still very young, and still has many years to prove his worth in the big leagues.

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Los Angeles should experiment with him, and appreciate him now. Because for all we know, some day he may turn it around, use his natural ability, and become one of baseball’s greats.