The Most Exciting Player in Baseball

He’s 22 years old and plays the game with unbridled enthusiasm. Until he gets benched for throwing a temper tantrum at the plate,  then walks like a slug instead of running to his position on the field.

Such is the dynamic of Yasiel Puig, who is both electrifying and agonizing as the rookie right fielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Dodger Stadium

He’s known as the Wild Horse, but sometimes he acts like a spoiled stallion that won’t be tamed, even if he bucks his rider and trips over his own feet.

Puig is hitting .351 with 19 doubles and 14 homers in half a season of action:

Puig Statistics

And when he comes to the plate, everyone stops what they’re doing to watch the guy who just may be the most exciting player in baseball. His ability to mesmerize 50,000 fans reminds me of Barry Bonds in his prime — a player who sizzled in the spotlight and brought everyone to their feet. You don’t want to be hustling a hot dog at the concession stand when he comes to the plate, for fear of missing something big.

Puig

 

I had a chance to see Yasiel Puig play in person last Saturday night in Los Angeles, where the Dodgers hosted the San Diego Padres. Puig was both brilliant (when he nailed a runner at home with a dart from right field that bounced on one hop to the catcher for an easy swipe of the baserunner) to baffling(when he walked

1st Base

but then got caught stealing at second by 10 feet). Puig went 0-4 with a boneheaded base running move but made the defensive play of the game that allowed the Dodgers to hold the Padres to 1 run in a 2-1, come from behind victory.

The Wild Horse wears no saddle but has much to learn. His playful exuberance and passion for the game are infectious, but his immaturity and miniscule minor league experience work against him. Given time, training and proper instruction from his coaches and teammates, Puig has potential to be one of the greats of the game. But in the meantime, he is a work in progress and what fun it will be to watch him grow up.

As for the Dodgers, they are rock solid now with the addition of former Giant Brian Wilson. The Bearded One took the mound in the 8th inning in relief and earned a victory after pitching a scoreless inning, followed by a Dodger rally in the last half of the frame.

Brian Wilson

The Dodgers have also added veteran Michael Young from the Phillies, giving them another solid infielder and steady bat for the stretch drive. The Dodgers are a lock to win the National League West, but I predict they will fall to the Cardinals in the battle for the pennant. St. Louis has five superb starters and is strong at every position. Second baseman Matt Carpenter leads the Majors in runs scored with 103. Pitching ace Adam Wainwright is tops in MLB with 5 complete games and leads everyone with just 1.26 walks per nine innings.

Sure the Dodgers have Clayton Kershaw, whose 1.89 ERA is the best in baseball, along with just 0.92 walks plus hits per inning. Both teams are great, but I give the Cardinals the edge with playoff experience. And even though the Dodgers have the most exciting player in baseball, he is just a rookie after all, who has never played in the postseason. Perhaps the Wild Horse will gallop his way to the World Series, but I  wouldn’t bet on it. Either way, it sure will be exciting to see him in action this October.

 

About Mike

Mike Luery is an award-winning journalist with 25 years on TV and radio. Currently, he is the political reporter for KCRA-TV, the top-ranked station in Sacramento. This is Luery's second tour of duty with KCRA, where he was also a reporter from 1984 - 2000. In between, he was NBC's Capitol Bureau Chief in California and a reporter for CBS 13 in Sacramento. Luery lives in northern California with his wife Carol. Baseball Between Us is his first book.
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