Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig had a turbulent 2016 season. Can he rebound in 2017 and regain the title of being one of Major League Baseball’s most exciting young stars?
In 2013, it seemed like the Los Angeles Dodgers struck gold with the quick emergence of outfielder Yasiel Puig. He started out on a scorching hot pace and ended his rookie season with a .319 batting average, 19 home runs and 42 runs batted in. He followed it up with an All-Star sophomore season in which he tallied 5.3 wins above replacement, good for 10th in the National League. So, whatever happened to the young exciting star he became? Will he be able to return to form in 2017?
What went wrong?
When trying to figure out how a player can improve, you have to a figure out what went wrong. Puig was, at one point, being talked about with Mike Trout, Bryce Harper and Manny Machado as the game’s new wave of young and exciting superstars. He made the All-Star team and was contributing to a team in contention. He even played a flashy brand of baseball that Dodgers fans embraced.
While he succeeded on the field, he had a few run ins that weren’t desirable. He was late to team meetings, butted heads with his manager and had been caught driving at high speeds. His defection from Cuba created some distraction as well. When he defected to Mexico, he got caught up with a Mexican drug cartel named Los Zetas, known for cocaine, smuggling and worse. Distractions have been ever present and it has taken its toll on Puig’s performance, whether they were caused by him or people he was formerly involved with.
Puig’s numbers have not been good the last two seasons, batting only .255 with 22 home runs and 83 runs batted in. He has only played in 183 major league games the last two seasons because of hamstring injuries and demotion to the minors. On top of that, he has only posted 2.5 wins above replacement the last two seasons. He put up 10.2 wins above replacement in his first two seasons. Puig needs to fix things and can’t do it without realization of what went wrong.
More from Call to the Pen
- Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals
Taking the blame.
Puig has publicly taken blame for his demotion to the minors. He has expressed remorse over not showing up on time to team meetings and not being a good teammate. It seems like the Dodgers’ decision to demote him has served its purpose. Puig has expressed his distaste toward playing in the minors on a few occasions.
Not only that, but Puig has also started doing his interviews in English instead of through a Spanish interpreter. While it may seem minor, speaking the language that most of his teammates and most baseball fans speak is a big step. Taking the steps to become a better teammate and realizing his need to improve are important for Puig to regain success.
Where does he fit in?
While improving himself on a personal level is a start, Puig will have to prove himself on the field. His performance on the field has been below average. He needs to prove he can still play at a high level. When Puig is on, he is one of the most exciting players on the diamond. He just needs to show he can still do it.
Another obstacle for Puig is the battle in the outfield taking place in Los Angeles. He will battle for the right field spot with Andre Ethier in an outfield unit that consists of Joc Pederson, Andrew Toles, Trayce Thompson and Scott Van Slyke. If Puig returns to form and stays out of trouble, he is the best of the bunch. All eyes will be on Puig to carry the outfield in 2017. Joc Pederson’s .224 career average isn’t getting anyone too excited. Puig will need to step up and improve the weak spot for the Dodgers if they want to contend this coming season.
Next: Cards Got Wrist Slap for Hacking
With the improvements Puig is making personally, it is hard not to be optimistic about a potential revival. He has shown he can be a productive player for a good stretch of time. He will need to steer clear of distractions and show he is in it for the team, not himself. While he has struggled the past few seasons, a minor league demotion may have helped his maturity. While he is not a sure thing, with the right mindset and motivation he can be great again. 2017 is Puig’s road to redemption. Let’s see if he takes advantage of it. The Dodgers need him and the baseball world will be watching.