With new ownership at the helm in 2012, the Los Angeles Dodgers looked to simultaneously field a competitive product on the field while also rebuilding a depleted farm system. The club proceed to sign highly-regarded Cuban prospect Yasiel Puig to a seven-year contract — the first of many ensuing transactions.
Puig found success in Cuba and posted terrific offensive numbers in his native country. When he debuted for the Dodgers in 2013, he immediately took the league by storm and provided a spark in the middle of the lineup.
Puig nearly accumulated five WAR, per Baseball-Reference’s calculations, during his inaugural season and finished the year with a .925 on-base plus slugging percentage. Four years later, Puig has evolved into an integral part of the Dodgers offense.
Longtime Dodgers scout Mike Brito recently revealed to MLB.com his first encounter with Puig, and how the club convinced him to sign:
Brito first discovered Puig in 2008, as a member of Cuban National Series’ Elefantes de Cienfuegos, during in exhibition game in Canada. He was immediately impressed by Puig’s athleticism and knew he had a future in the Major Leagues.
Puig enjoyed a career year in 2017, batting .263/.346/.487 with 24 doubles a and personal-best 28 home runs over 570 plate appearances (152 games). He thrived in the postseason, collecting 16 hits in 56 at-bats (.286), clubbing three homers along the way.
The 27-year-old excelled with his glove and arm as well, winning his first career Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Award for right field. Puig was also a finalist for the Rawlings Gold Glove Award, though Jason Heyward of the Chicago Cubs ultimately took home honors.
In five MLB seasons, Puig owns a career slash line of .281/.357/.475 with 108 doubles, 85 home runs and 268 RBI over 2,321 plate appearances.
He’s entering the final season of his contract, though he’s also eligible for arbitration in 2019 and isn’t scheduled for free agency until the following year.
