by Jack Moore | CBSSports.com (5/22/2013) The Dodgers have discussed calling up prospect Yasiel Puig, the Los Angeles Times reports.
The Dodgers have struggled this season and Puig's talent has made him a much-discussed commodity outside the front office as well. However, it doesn't appear as if there's a place to play him -- Carl Crawford and Andre Ethier have both been above-average hitters this year and the club is not going to give up on Matt Kemp as he works through his slump. At this point, it seems unlikely the club will call up Puig unless there's a major injury in the outfield.
Yasiel Puig homers in return to lineup
by Ed Gauna | CBSSports.com (4/29/2013) Dodgers prospect Yasiel Puig was activated from the disabled list for Double-A Chattanooga on Monday and had a productive day at the plate. He went 2 for 6 with a home run and two RBI. After blasting a solo home run, he supplied a walk-off single in the 11th inning to propel Chattanooga to a 3-2 win.
Puig, who missed time due to a sprained left thumb, is batting .333 with four homers and 11 RBI in 14 games at Double-A.
Yasiel Puig runs into trouble off the field
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (4/29/2013) Dodgers outfield prospect Yasiel Puig could face disciplinary action, including from the team, after being arrested for reckless driving, speeding and driving without proof of insurance in Tennessee after police say he went "almost double" the speed limit. The 22-year-old Puig, currently playing for Los Angeles' Double-A affiliate in Chattanooga, was reportedly serving as a designated driver when he was arrested at 1 a.m. Sunday.
"We're aware of the situation and we take it very seriously," a Dodgers spokesperson said. "We'll be handling discipline internally."
Puig is hitting .333 with three homers in 13 games for Chattanooga, but is currently on the disabled list with a sprained left thumb and hasn't played since April 18. He signed a seven-year, $42 million contract last summer after defecting from Cuba.
Yasiel Puig placed on minor-league DL
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (4/20/2013) Dodgers outfield prospect Yasiel Puig was placed on the seven-day disabled list Saturday with a sprained left thumb. Puig was hitting .333 with three doubles, a triple, three homers and nine RBI in 13 games for Double-A Chattanooga before the injury.
Yasiel Puig hits third Double-A home run
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com (4/18/2013) Dodgers outfield prospect Yasiel Puig hit his third home run of the season for Double-A Chattanooga in Thursday's 5-3 victory. Puig has hit .333/.385/.625 with three home runs and two stolen bases in 48 at-bats but remains blocked at the major-league level.
Yasiel Puig is a bit overowned
by Nando Di Fino | Senior Fantasy Writer (4/11/2013) After a hot spring in which he hit .517 with three home runs and four steals, Yasiel Puig became a must-add in Dynasty and NL-only formats. But owners may have become a little over-excited at the strong showing, bringing his ownership level to 47 percent into the second week of the season.
The fact that Puig is hitting .467 with a 1.289 OPS through the first five games of the Double-A season is not helping this argument -- nor is the .354 average (with 1.076 OPS) he put up last year in 23 minor-league games. Add on the success of Bryce Harper, Mike Trout and Manny Machado before their 21st birthdays, and the "he's young!" caveat doesn't fly. But the Dodgers have a stacked outfield, can slide Skip Schumaker and Jerry Hairston into any holes that may open because of injury, and have some organization depth with Tony Gwynn and Elian Herrera, as well. In short, Puig has some roadblocks to getting the call.
I'm not saying Puig shouldn't be owned in a significant number of leagues. But in shallower formats with players like J.D Martinez and Jose Quintana on the wire, it might be worth it to let your Puig go and add someone who can help you now.
Prospect Yasiel Puig stays hot in minors
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (4/9/2013) Dodgers prospect Yasiel Puig has remained hot since beginning his season with Double-A Chattanooga, reports the Los Angeles Times Tuesday. Puig is batting .538 with a home run, three RBI, three runs scored, three walks and a stolen base.
The 22-year-old Cuban defector, who hit .517 this spring with three homers, 11 RBI, 16 runs scored and four steals, has an OPS of 1.471 with Chattanooga.
Yasiel Puig set for Double-A debut
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (4/4/2013) Dodgers prospect Yasiel Puig is expected to make his season debut for Double-A Chattanooga Thursday. Puig was reassigned to the minors in late March after a torrid spring.
Puig hit .517 (30 for 58) with two triples, three home runs, five doubles, 11 RBI, 16 runs and four stolen bases in 27 spring games.
Countdown to Yasiel Puig's return begins
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (3/26/2013) Well, the suspense is finally over. Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig will open the year in the minors. Now we turn our attention to ... when will the Dodgers recall him?
The Los Angeles Times is suggesting his demotion is more of a contract move to save an arbitration year on the emerging slugger. I'm not so sure. What happens if Andre Either, Matt Kemp and Carl Crawford are all producing a month into the season? Can the Dodgers really afford to mess with team chemistry? Also, would it benefit Puig's long-term development to sit him on the bench and not give him regular at-bats? All these questions will weigh heavily on the Dodgers.
Puig is obviously ready for the majors and could be just an injury away from being recalled, so if you are in a deep league and can afford the roster spot, then it could be worth stashing Puig. But it's still a risk because there's a chance Puig could spend a great deal of time this year in the minors. It's a complete guessing game right now.
Yasiel Puig shipped to Double-A
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (3/26/2013) The Dodgers have optioned outfield prospect Yasiel Puig to Double-A Chattanooga, according to the team's official website. Puig had a scorching spring as he went 30 for 57 (.526) with three homers, 11 RBI and four stolen bases in 26 Cactus League games.
The Los Angeles Times suggests that the Dodgers could call him up after he spends 20 or more days in the minors, which would allow the team to hold on to the 22-year-old for an extra season in 2019, rather than him opting out in 2018.
Yasiel Puig opening eyes this spring
by Chris Cwik | CBSSports.com (3/25/2013) Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig has impressed at camp this spring.
Just 22-years-old, Puig was signed to a seven-year, $42 million deal last season after defecting from Cuba. While he was not expected to make the club’s major-league roster, Puig has played his way into consideration.
The Dodgers want Puig to receive regular playing time, but the team already has Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier and Carl Crawford in the outfield. If Puig begins the year in the minors, he could be an early call-up.
Yasiel Puig continues to shine
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (3/24/2013) Dodgers outfield prospect Yasiel Puig turned in another solid performance at the plate Saturday night against the white Sox in Cactus League action. Puig, who entered the game as a defensive replacement, collected three more hits as he continues to stay red-hot this spring. He went 3 for 3 with two runs scored in a 10-4 victory. He is batting .547 with three home runs and 11 RBI.
Puig has 10 hits in his last 11 at-bats, but is not expected to earn a roster spot, according to the Los Angeles Times. He will likely start the season at Double-A Chattanooga.
Magic Johnson praises Yasiel Puig
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (3/22/2013) Dodgers outfield prospect Yasiel Puig has drawn the attention of several folks within the organization due to his blistering spring, but the praise from one key executive carries extra weight. That would be co-owner Magic Johnson, who is certainly a strong purveyor of talent after ranking among the best players in NBA history.
Johnson said Friday he was "very excited" to watch Puig play after the 22-year-old posted a .521 batting average in the Cactus League, but he will not push for him to be included on the opening-day roster.
"I think that when it comes to baseball decisions like this, they know the game quite well. If it’s going to be better off for the young man and the organization, that’s what we’re going to do," Johnson told the Los Angeles Times. "We’re happy that we have a talented young man. He doesn’t have to rush. We have a lot of talent on this team."
Yoenis Cespedes: Yasiel Puig ready for majors
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (3/20/2013)The Los Angeles Times reports fellow Cuban defector and A's outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, who finished second in the AL rookie of the year voting in 2012, said Dodgers prospect Yasiel Puig shouldn't be sent back to the minors.
"To me and to anyone who's seen what he's done, he's ready," Cespedes said.
Puig is turning heads in camp this spring with a .500 average (23 for 46) through 21 games. He also has one triple, three doubles, three homers, 10 RBI, 13 runs and four stolen bases.
Asked whether he thought Puig could match his rookie numbers, Cespedes replied, "Of course. He can do even more."
The Dodgers have recently been evading the question on whether or not Puig will make the opening day roster because their outfield is already stacked with Carl Crawford, Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier.
Yasiel Puig now on 2013 radar
by Scott White | Senior Fantasy Writer (3/20/2013) When I put together my list of the top 50 prospects Fantasy owners should know in early February, I left the Dodgers' Yasiel Puig off the list, and one reader took exception to it. Check out the comments at the bottom.
My reasoning was that Puig, for all his upside, has raised doubts about his conditioning and attitude. Plus, I didn't see him making a real impact in 2013.
If nothing else, that last part has changed.
How could it not given his spring performance? At age 22, he's batting .500 (23 for 46) with three homers and three doubles. The Dodgers say he's not making the team, but there has to be a reason he's still in big-league camp.
With the state of Carl Crawford's elbow still in question, I'm thinking the Dodgers have found their backup plan.
Yasiel Puig stays scorching hot
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (3/19/2013) While the Dodgers continue to reiterate that outfield prospect Yasiel Puig will not make the opening-day roster, he continues to do nothing but show manager Don Mattingly that that decision may be a mistake.
Puig went 4 for 4 on Tuesday in a Cactus League game against the A's, nearly hitting for the cycle. The Cuban defector, 22, had a two-run homer in his first at-bat against starter Dan Straily. He singled to the opposite field in his next AB and that trip around the bases included a stolen base, his fourth of the spring.
Puig missed the cycle because of his immaturity. He didn't run hard out of the box, thinking a fly ball would be caught in the fifth inning and was thrown out stretching a single into a double. He tripled in his final at-bat.
Puig is hitting .500 over 45 at-bats with three doubles, a triple, three home runs, 10 RBI and four stolen bases. But he's expected to begin the year in the minors.
Yasiel Puig making noise
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com (3/16/2013) The Dodgers have made it very clear that Yasiel Puig, their $42-million man, is all but certain to begin the season in the minors.
Despite that, Puig continues to do everything he can to make their decision difficult in spring training. Puig hit his second home run of the spring Friday in Cactus League action against the Royals, as he took Yordano Ventura deep in the first inning for a two-run home run.
Puig added a pair of singles and a stolen base later in the 8-1 win, to finish 3 for 3 with three runs scored and two RBI. Puig is batting .459 with 10 strikeouts and no walks in 37 plate appearances.
Puig, 22, signed a seven-year contract last season, so the Dodgers have little reason to rush Baseball America's No. 47 prospect. He posted a .354/.442/.634 triple-slash line in 82 minor-league at bats last season, and could make his major-league debut this season.
Don Mattingly: Yasiel Puig not in opening day mix
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (3/14/2013) The Los Angeles Times reports Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said Thursday outfield prospect Yasiel Puig is not in the mix to make the opening day roster, despite his stellar performance this spring. Puig is batting .424 (14 for 33) with one homer, three doubles, six RBI and eight runs in 16 spring games. Baseball America ranks Puig as the 47th-best prospect, while MLB.com has him ranked No. 76.
Puig living up to the hype
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (3/12/2013) Dodgers outfield prospect Yasiel Puig continues to impress manager Don Mattingly. Puig had two more hits Monday, raising his spring average to .452 (14 for 31). He also has one homer, three doubles, six RBI and eight runs in 15 games. "He's looked really good. There really hasn't been a negative about him," Mattingly said, per the Los Angeles Times. "I think he's smart. I think he makes adjustments. He's been good. He needs to play. He's rough. He's a wild horse. It's fun to watch."
Puig is 'raw' talent for Dodgers
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (2/27/2013) Dodgers prospect Yasiel Puig entered Wednesday's game just 2 for 8 with one double and three strikeouts in his first four spring games, but manager Don Mattingly is impressed with the 22-year-old outfielder. "The best word for me with Yasiel is 'raw,'" Mattingly said, per MLB.com. "This guy is full speed. He is a beast. It is a body in motion. When this guy comes around the bases, it's a train coming. ... But it's raw, and it's full speed, and I like it. It's like a wild horse." Mattingly said it's "up to (Puig)" to dictate his ETA to the majors. "We'll see," Mattingly said. "The story hasn't been written yet. He didn't get to play a whole lot last year. He had some injuries and whatnot. This year hopefully will be a full season with a lot of at-bats and you get a better picture."
Puig more than power hitter
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (2/10/2013) MLB.com reports Dodgers outfield prospect Yasiel Puig is generating a ton of buzz about his power potential, but minor league director De Jon Watson feels the international free agent brings more to the table. "You look at this guy's skill set, and his tools are pretty impressive," Watson said, noting Puig's speed as well. "It's going to be fun to watch him grow and develop this year. For him, it's about being selective and selective in the strike zone."
Puig to miss winter program
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (1/5/2013) Dodgers prospect Yasiel Puig will not participate in L.A.'s winter program as he will remain in Puerto Rico, reports the Los Angeles Times Saturday. Puig's team in Puerto Rico has made the playoffs.
