Yasiel Puig said all the correct things when he rejoined the Los Angeles Dodgers for their first game in September. The 25-year-old outfielder said he was humbled, learned from being demoted to Triple-A Oklahoma City and vowed to continue with a strong work ethic.
Puig started two of three games over the weekend, and hit a home run — a three-run shot — on Sunday to give the Dodgers a decided lead. The home run was Puig’s eighth of the season and first since returning from the Minors.
“He called it. He actually called it,” Jose De Leon said of the home run. “This is the third time this year he’s called his shot. It’s amazing.”
De Leon and Puig embraced in the dugout on multiple occasions throughout the day. The two were teammates for the past month in Oklahoma City.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts noted the importance of Puig’s home run, but also praised his outfielder for impacting by other means.
“The homer was great, it was a big hit for us,” Robert ssaid. “The at-bat quality he had throughout the day, hitting cutoff men, throwing to the right base, and backing up, there was a lot Yasiel did to help us win a baseball game.”
Upon being recalled from Oklahoma City, Puig met with teammates and Roberts. The messages delivered were what the club expected and needed from the mercurial outfielder. Puig was said to have responded well to those meetings.
Roberts reiterated that sentiment on Sunday. “Yasiel is doing everything we’ve asked, and doing everything everyone else in that clubhouse is doing,” he said.
“And I think more importantly, he and his teammates are talking about doing the right things. When there’s accountability with your teammates it makes everyone better. Not only Yasiel, but his teammates.”
