The mystery of Yasiel Puig was revealed after he burst onto the big league scene in early June and helped carry the Los Angeles Dodgers to an unbelievable run from worst to first in the NL West and all the way to the National League Championship Series.
Puig‘s seven-year, $42 million deal in June 2012 almost seemed like an afterthought after all of the offseason buzz surrounding fellow Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, who signed a four-year, $36 million deal less than five months earlier. Two years later, it’s the 23-year-old Puig who has stolen all of the spotlight.
Despite five months of Puig becoming an overnight sensation and a household name last year, it’s hard to know what to expect in 2014.
Baseball is a game of ups and downs. There are huge injury risks involved, and players rarely make it through a 162-game season at full health. In addition, constant adjustments need to be made as opponents discover weaknesses.
While the game appeared almost too easy for Puig during his rookie season, it’s hard to know how he’ll play when he has to deal with minor injuries or how he’ll adjust to the strategies of opposing pitchers or whether he can stay out of trouble off the field.
Here are 10 predictions for Puig‘s sophomore MLB season.