Add another item to Yasiel Puig’s list of transgressions this season. 

The 22-year-old burgeoning star showed up late to Marlins Park before the Dodgers’ game in Miami on Tuesday and was subsequently hit with a fine, per Dodgers.com’s Ken Gurnick:

This caps off what has been a frustrating week for Puig, who hasn’t been exposed to many down moments since his call-up to the big leagues back in June. 

After going 0-for-9 in L.A.’s last two games, Puig is now just three for his last 23 with zero walks and five strikeouts. He has seen his average drop from .373 to .351 as a result.   

That frustration reportedly boiled over into an outburst following Monday’s loss, per Miami radio host Josh Friedman:

According to manager Don Mattingly, via Gurnick, the young Cuban international was being held out of Tuesday’s lineup because of his recent struggles at the plate:

That might explain why he showed up late to the ballpark, but even so, he will have to learn that team rules can’t be broken. 

Of course, those are just minor flaws in what has otherwise been a remarkable rookie season for Puig

After taking the league by storm with four home runs in his first five career games, the 6’3″, 245-pound athletic freak of nature only continued to rake. Even with his recent slump, he is hitting a robust .351/.412/.556 with 11 home runs, 27 RBI and 47 runs scored in 67 games. 

Moreover, he provided the necessary spark of energy this Dodgers team desperately needed, instantly helping catapult them from the middle of the NL West to near the top of the National League standings. Before Puig was called up, the Dodgers were 23-32. Now, they are 72-52.

Nevertheless, for as good as Puig has been thus far, he has to control his emotions and learn to play by the rules. 

No one is above the team. 

 

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