Kiwoom Heroes sign one-time MLB All-Star Yasiel Puig to one-year, $1 million maximum contract
One of the most boisterous and flamboyant MLB stars from last decade is heading overseas.
It was reported Wednesday morning that former Los Angeles Dodgers all-star outfielder Yasiel Puig had received an offer from the Kiwoom Heroes of the KBO (Korea). MLB Network insider Jon Heyman confirmed late Wednesday night that Puig had signed a deal with the Heroes.
Puig defected from Cuba in 2012 and signed a seven-year, $42 million contract with the Dodgers. No. 66 made his MLB debut in June 2013 and immediately took the league by storm with his powerful bat, rocket for an arm and infectious, sometimes boneheaded style of play.
Puig finished the 2013 campaign with 19 home runs, 42 RBIs, 11 steals and 21 doubles over 432 plate appearances in 104 games, while posting a superb .319/.391/.534 slash line. Despite missing the first two months of the season, Puig still finished the year 15th in the NL MVP voting and second only to the late Jose Fernandez of the Miami Marlins.
In his second season, Puig hit 16 home runs and drove in 69 runs, while setting career-highs in hits (165), runs (92), doubles (37), triples (nine) and plate appearances (640). He earned his first and only all-star appearance that season as well.
The now-31-year-old was traded to the Cincinnati Reds in December 2018 after six seasons with Los Angeles as a part of a seven-player deal. After 100 games with the Reds in 2019, Puig was again traded, this time to the then-Cleveland Indians in a three-team transaction.
The Cuban did not play in the Major Leagues in 2020 or 2021.
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