It has been years since Yasiel Puig last appeared in the majors. The former Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder is in the midst of his hypothetical prime, and had been a solid power hitter during his time in the majors, but has been unable to generate any interest. Questions about his attitude have persisted, dogging what has been a solid career.
That has not stopped Puig from attempting a comeback. After spending the 2021 season in Mexico, he has begun to generate interest – in the Korean Baseball Organization.
Yasiel Puig has received an offer from the Kiwoom Heroes of the KBO (Korea) @Jeeho_1 and @francysromero10 on it
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 8, 2021
Former Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig gets KBO offer
Although Puig never developed into the superstar he was expected to become, he was still a solid player. The 2014 All Star has posted a solid .277/.348/.475 batting line in his 3376 plate appearances over seven years, hitting 132 homers and 159 doubles while stealing 79 bases.
If Puig’s story began and ended with his production, he would still be in the majors. However, there is far more to him than what he can do with the bat. His mercurial personality and antics on the diamond rubbed front offices around the league the wrong way. He was also adept at getting under the skin of his opponents, typically in the center of any benches clearing incident.
The thought was that if Puig could perform well in Mexico and refrain from causing issues, he could get another chance in the majors. He held up his end of the bargain in terms of production, putting together a .312/.409/.517 batting line in his 247 plate appearances, hitting ten homers and 12 doubles. However, he was also in the middle of two benches clearing incidents last season, likely ruining his chances of a return to the majors.
But hope still remains. If Puig does end up signing with the Kiwoom Heroes and performs well, he could once again be on the radar for major league teams. That would especially be the case if he can stay out of trouble on the diamond next year. A trek to the KBO could be exactly what he needs.
Former Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig could be taking his talents to South Korea. He has an offer from the Kiwoom Heroes in the KBO.