Sources have confirmed to the Cuban Baseball Digest that former MLB outfielder Yasiel Puig will play winter ball in the Dominican League with the Estrellas Orientales. Puig saw the action last season in the Korean Baseball Organization with the Kiwoom Heroes.
In 126 games with the team he hit .277 with 21 longballs, 73 runs batted in and slashed .368/.474/.841. The Cuban last played in the Dominican circuit in 2021 with the Toros del Este batting .231 in five games. When he is at the top of his game Puig is a bonified five tool player.
During his seven seasons in the big leagues with Cincinnati, Cleveland and the Dodgers the slugger hit .277 with 132 roundtrippers, 415 RBIs, 79 stolen bases and slashed.348/.474/ .823. Puig also exhibited great defensive prowess and was known for having one of the best arms in the game.
At the age of 32 Puig is at his prime and his incursion in the league is more than likely a place to showcase the native of Cienfuegos, Cuba’s talents for MLB, Mexican or Asian League clubs for the 2024 season. With a great performance in the toughest Caribbean league could open a lot of doors for the player in the summer. Puig is represented by Leona Sports. His stablemate at Leona Sports Dairon Blanco will also play for Las Estrellas.
Fuentes: El jardinero cienfueguero @YasielPuig jugará con las @EOBASEBALLCLUB de la @LIDOMRD este invierno. #pelotacubana #LIDOM pic.twitter.com/ePe71MDGCB
— Yusseff305 🇨🇺🇺🇲 (@yusseff305) August 4, 2023
Cubans who play in the Winter Leagues this season:
LIDOM:
Ronald Bolaños RHP (Águilas)
Yadir Drake OF-1B (Águilas)
Yunesky Maya RHP (Águilas)
Julio Robaina LHP (Águilas)
Rangel Ravelo IF-OF (Águilas)
Dairon Blanco OF (Estrellas)
Yasiel Puig OF (Estrellas)
Raúl Valdés LHP (Toros)
Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico:
Yuniesky Larduet OF (Los Mochis)*
Pavel Hernández RHP (Navojoa)*
Albert Lara IF-OF (Navojoa)
Carlos J. Viera RHP (Hermosillo)*
Dariel Álvarez OF (Culiacán)
Félix Pérez OF-1B (Jalisco)
Lázaro Blanco RHP (Mazatlán)
Yoelkis Guibert OF (Guasave)*
JC Escarra IF-OF (Guasave)**
Yoanys Quiala RHP (Monterrey)
Odrisamer Despaigne RHP ( Ciudad Obregón)
Peter O’Brien (Culiacán) **
LBPRC:
Pedro Echemendia RHP (Ponce)
*Affiliated with FCB
** Cuban-American