A scouting trip to Mexico netted the Los Angeles Dodgers both Yasiel Puig and Julio Urias, who each have gone on to play an important role for the franchise over the years.
Urias — winner of the 2021 Warren Spahn Award — of course remains part of the team. However, Puig’s time with the Dodgers came to an end after the 2019 season. That was two years removed from being a key contributor and helping L.A. to their first World Series appearance since 1988.
While Puig set a career high with 28 home runs, he dealt with significant off-the-field issues that have come to light years later.
According to Gus Garcia-Roberts of the Washington Post, Puig faced two separate sexual assault allegations:
Major League Baseball learned of the allegations during the 2017 season, according to people with direct knowledge of the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss it publicly.
Puig reached settlements in both cases that were confidential and encouraged by his representatives at the time, according to attorney Scott Lesowitz:
“Yasiel’s advisers at the time strongly advised him to enter into the agreements despite Yasiel denying the allegations,” Lesowitz wrote in a statement to The Post. With “limited English abilities,” Lesowitz wrote, Puig “deferred to his advisers.” Lesowitz did not address the allegations in detail.
Puig’s attorney in the agreements was Daniel Petrocelli, and he was represented at the time by Adam Katz of Wasserman Media Group. Wasserman dropped Puig as a client in February 2018, though did not provide specifics for the sudden separation.
The allegations Puig faced in 2017 and subsequent settlements have been brought into the public light due to assault claims and lawsuit stemming from alleged assault at Staples Center during an L.A. Lakers game in 2018. Puig settled with the woman this past October, one year after the lawsuit was brought forth.
While MLB was aware of the claims in 2017, Puig was never placed on administrative leave — as is common practice in such cases. He previously was the subject of an MLB investigation due to a physical altercation with his sister.
Puig signs with Kiwoom Heroes of KBO
Still attempting to restore his reputation and return to MLB, Puig’s next stop is going to be in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) after signing a one-year contract with the Kiwoom Heroes.
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