A federal jury found former Major League Baseball outfielder Yasiel Puig guilty after a trial that lasted several weeks. The case included testimony from MLB officials and individuals connected to the illegal gambling ring. Puig faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 26. According to the prosecution, The native of Palmira, Cuba accumulated more than $280,000 in losses in 2019 by placing at least 900 bets on tennis, soccer, and basketball through an illegal operation.
The outfielder hasn’t played in MLB since 2019. In his career, he hit 132 home runs, drove in 415 runs, and was an All-Star in 2014. In 2014, he played professional baseball in South Korea. His defense team announced that it will file an appeal.
Sources also confirmed to the Cuban Baseball Digest that Puig will be traded to the Conspiradores de Querétaro by El Águila de Veracruz, who hold his rights in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol for the upcoming season. Puig played last season in the KBO with the Kiwoom Heroes. In his last season in the LMB, which was 2024 with Veracruz he slashed .314/.410/.610/1.020 with 18 homeruns and 43 runs batted in over a 64 game span.