Dodgers News: Yasiel Puig Hits 3 RBIs in First Triple-A Appearance

The Los Angeles Dodgers sent Yasiel Puig to the minors shortly after the MLB trade deadline concluded. Puig has struggled during the 2016 season and now begins a new chapter as the 25-year-old starts his stint in Triple-A.

Before the game with the Oklahoma City Dodgers, Puig signed autographs for fans before taking the field.

Yasiel Puig signing autographs in Des Moines, before the first AAA game of his career. #Dodgers pic.twitter.com/tPAw2Wj8Oc

— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) August 7, 2016

Puig wore No. 46 in his debut and in OKC’s 6-4 loss to Iowa, Puig doubled, singled and drove in 3 of the teams 4 runs.

In Yasiel Puig's first two AAA at-bats, he pulls offspeed stuff for ground ball outs (5-3 at 83 mph, 6-3 at 84 mph). #Dodgers

— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) August 7, 2016

Yasiel Puig now batting .333 at AAA, after a cue-shot single:: a ground ball through the legs of the pitcher. #Dodgers

— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) August 7, 2016

L.A. Times reporter Bill Shaikin reports that Puig didn’t say whether or not any Dodgers teammates had reached out following his demotion, and through his translator simply responded “no comment.”

Shaikin on Puig’s Triple-A appearance:

Puig said he had “no idea” how long he might stay at Oklahoma City but said he was well aware of what he had to do to return to the major leagues.

“Be a better teammate,” said Luis Matos, the Oklahoma City coach who interpreted for Puig on Sunday. “Be a better performer on the field.”

He declined to say what specific goals the Dodgers had communicated to him, or if he believed he had a future in Los Angeles.

“He’s just coming here to be a better person,” Matos said. “That’s out of his hands. He just wants to play baseball…It doesn’t matter if it’s the Dodgers or with somebody else…If he does not prosper here, after all, neither the Dodgers nor any other team might want him.”

“That is what I’m trying to do here in triple-A, give all my effort,” Puig said via Matos, “and then the Dodgers are going to decide what they are going to do.”

This season with the Dodgers Puig batted .260, notched 7 home runs and 34 RBIs. So far in his career, Puig has batted .288, racked up 53 home runs and 183 RBIs.

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