Former Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig has bounced around several different baseball leagues since departing the Dodgers’ organization in 2018.
Puig, 35, recently signed with Toronto Maple Leafs of the Canadian Baseball League on April 23. The amateur team’s Opening Day main spectucale, hit two home runs on May 10.
While it may seem like the ‘Wild Horse’ has found his footing in baseball yet again, his time in Canada might get cut short due to a court hearing on May 26 in Los Angeles.
“I don’t have plans, God made the plan for me, I don’t know,” Puig said via an interview with the Athletic’s Dan Robson. “I need to go to Los Angeles and later come back, only God knows what will happen … May 26.”
He was found guilty of obstruction of justice and providing false statements to federal investigators who had been looking into an illegal sports gambling operation back in 2022. Puig incurred $282,900 in debts from the bets he placed with an illegal sports gambling operation.
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Yasiel Puig’s Prosecutors Are Seeking 18 Months in Prison Instead of Maximum Penalty
Federal prosecutors requested former Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig receive prison time after committing two felonies. Obstructing justice and lying to authorities. A Los Angeles jury convicted Puig on Feb. 6 on the two counts, which carry a maximum of 15 years in prison.
Sam Blum of The Athletic wrote that prosecutors immediately asked that Puig be remanded into custody, claiming he was a “flight risk.” However, the judge did not agree, allowing Puig to continue freely and pursue his baseball career.
Puig’s attorney, Keri Curtis Axel, spoke to The Athletic via text that the defense did not think prison time was necessary, “Yasiel Puig is a first-time offender who has already been punished through years of prosecution, reputational damage, financial consequences, and the effective destruction of his professional life,” she wrote. “A prison sentence is not proportional to the conduct and would not accomplish any rehabilitative purpose here. The Court has complete discretion over the sentence, and the defense will request a sentence of probation.”
His attorneys also noted that Puig didn’t fully understand what the investigators were asking due to the language barrier.
Over the course of the 12-day trial, prosecutors presented evidence showing Puig placed bets between May to September 2019, through an intermediary with former professional baseball player Wayne Nix, and accrued more than a quarter-million dollars in debt.
While the maximum sentence is 15 years, his prosecutors are requesting Puig serve 18 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and pay $55,200 in fines.
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Yasiel Puig’s Time With the Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers snagged 21-year-old Yasiel Puig as an international free agent in 2012. They signed him to a seven-year, $42 million contract and he took the MLB world by storm after his debut in 2013.
Puig was 2-for-4 in his MLB debut on June 3 against the San Diego Padres, then later saved the game in the top of the ninth with an outfield assist. His next game he hit two home runs, and began rolling from there on out, finishing the season with a .319 batting average, 19 home runs, and 11 steals in 104 games.
After an incredible rookie year bid, Puig finished second in National League Rookie of the Year vote behind Miami Marlins starting pitcher Jose Fernandez.
The following season, Puig secured his single All-Star selection in a year where he slashed .296/.382/.480 as the Dodgers’ starting right fielder.
Puig’s outlandish personality, fiery attitude, and incredible cannon of an arm, quickly made him one of the most beloved Dodgers players during the 2012-2018 time period. He finished his career with the Dodgers short of a World Series ring after being traded to the Cincinnati Reds ahead of he 2019 season.
Ex-Dodgers All-Star Yasiel Puig Facing Up to 15 Years of Prison Time