Dodgers News: Yasiel Puig Discusses First Month In Big Leagues

Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig has been in the news for his tremendous play and helping the Dodgers catapult up the NL West standings as they’re just 2.5 games behind first place Arizona.

Puig has won accolades already as he was voted June’s Rookie and Player of the Month after breaking the Dodgers record for most hits by a rookie in a month.

However, Puig’s skills with the media have been attacked in the past for ignoring Luis Gonzalez yesterday in Arizona and reportedly “blowing off” the media in Colorado. Regardless, Puig finally opened up to the media and particularly Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com about his first month in the big leagues:

“This month has been unforgettable,” Puig said in Spanish in an exclusive interview with MLB.com. “I’m grateful that this has happened in my life. I’m happy for myself, my teammates and all the fans of Los Angeles. They’ve all supported me in this month. I’m really happy with all the fans out there.”

Puig’s play has re-energized the Dodgers fanbase that has been suffering without a World Series championship since 1988 and came into the year with heightened expectations after spending so much money.

While he’s only been in the big leagues for just over a month, there’s a learning curve that Puig and the Dodgers know he’ll have to adapt to, but it’s hard to place all the blame on him for his lack of media skills.

Sanchez asked Puig about all the media attention and he discussed how he didn’t receive this much attention while in Cuba:

“In Cuba, there wasn’t much press. Here, I have a lot of press on me, and it’s not something I really like. Maybe they don’t understand the situation I’m in,” Puig said. “I’m not bad, I just don’t like the press and I don’t like the fame. I’m having fun and I want my team to get the attention.”

It’s clear that people are trying to knock Puig off his perch as the most exciting player in the game, but it’s important for him to just enjoy the moment and continue to lead the Dodgers to more and more wins.