Puig gets in licks, says coach taught discipline
Outfielder hit .414 in playoffs without curbing enthusiasm.
Wagging LOS ANGELES — his tongue, licking his bat and hitting better than .400, Yasiel Puig has powered the Dodgers’ run to their first World Series in 29 years.
Puig’s play and personality have been a huge hit. He’s been shrewd at the plate and shown a strong arm from the outfield. His emotional behavior has sparked the team while he’s remained focused on the field.
“Crazy, funny, electric,” backup catcher Kyle Farmer said in using three words to describe his teammate.
Puig made an entrance at World Series media day on Monday, interrupting Turner Ward mid-sentence to plant a smooch on the hitting coach’s left cheek before picking his way through the throng to his assigned table.
Once seated, Puig yelled for Ward to come over and return the favor. Ward did, kissing Puig’s right cheek.
“He gave me a lot of information for this year and tried to get me to take it easy at home plate and take the best pitch I can,” Puig said. “He helped me with my teammates. That’s why I played better this year.”
Puig was a revelation, quite the opposite of the player who alternately delighted and bedeviled his manager, teammates and the front office upon making his big league debut in June 2013.
Puig hit .455 in the NL Division Series against Arizona, licking his bat, making faces and flipping his bat after a mere single. Those kinds of antics used to rankle his teammates and divide fans into those who loved his passion and those who felt it detracted from the team.
Away from the field, he had two reckless driving arrests eight months apart in his rookie year. During games, he made poor decisions on the base paths and in the outfield. Hamstring issues hurt Puig’s playing time and production in 2015 and 2016.
Things came to a head last year when Puig got demoted to the minors and the Dodgers seemed intent on trading away their runner-up for NL Rookie of the Year in 2013. Suitably chastened, he rejoined the team that September and ended the regular season hitting .263.
“I care about his career, I care about him more importantly as a person, and understanding that has kind of helped build that relationship,” Ward said.
This year, Puig stayed healthy enough to play in 152 games while setting career highs with 28 home runs, 74 RBIs and 15 stolen bases to go with a lone error. His tear extended into the playoffs.
In eight games, Puig batted .414 — third-highest on the team. He had six runs, six RBIs and six walks. He had an OBP of .514 and a slugging percentage of .655.
Just three years ago, Puig struck out seven times in a row in the NLDS against St. Louis. In this season’s playoffs he struck out three times.
“The discipline,” teammate Justin Turner said. “I think that’s kind of what everybody has noticed more than anything.”