A club interested in wild horse Yasiel Puig appeared in the Asian League. However, it cannot be concluded that the Kiwoom Heroes will return.
Since his debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2013, he has played in 861 games over seven seasons with the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians (now the Guardians), recording 834 hits, 132 homers, 415 RBIs, 441 runs and 79 steals with a batting average of 0.277 OPS of 0.823. However, he lost his footing in the Major League due to various rumors and COVID-19, and he was playing in the Mexican league when he contacted the KBO League. It was the Kiwoom Heroes.
Puig, who will join Kiwoom’s uniform ahead of the 2022 season, had a short but strong impact. Puig played in 126 games and posted 131 hits, 21 homers, 73 RBIs, 65 runs batted in, and a batting average of 0.277 OPS of 0.841. Notably, he had 17 hits, three homers, 10 RBIs and a batting average of 0.315 OPS of 0.977 in 15 postseason games from the semi-playoff to the Korean Series, contributing to Kiwoom’s runner-up finish.
However, his relationship with Kiwoom ended in just one season. He was involved in a lawsuit over illegal sports gambling after the season ended. Kiwoom had no choice but to feel pressured as he continued accompanying the player who was involved in the lawsuit. As a result, Puig turned his attention back to South America and continued his career by playing in the Mexican League, the Dominican Republic, and the Venezuelan Winter League. 먹튀검증
However, interesting news was delivered on the 7th (Korea time). Puig announced on his SNS, “I am planning to prepare a new way as I am offered a contract for 2025. It was a difficult but necessary decision,” and that he would end his contract with Venezuelan Winter League team Tiburones de la Guaira. And the U.S. Newsweek reported that Puig will sign a contract with the Asian League club. As a result, rumors of Puig’s return to Kiwoom began to rise.
The rumors about Puig’s return match Kiwoom’s current situation very well. Kiwoom was accompanied by Ronnie Dawson last year. However, an injury forced him to say goodbye to the operating table, and he finished the season without recruiting new foreign hitters. Kiwoom needs to recruit new foreign hitters, and if Puig has completely resolved issues related to illegal gambling, a reunion can happen at any time.
Then, how likely is it that Puig and Kiwoom will reunite again? For now, Kiwoom holds Puig’s right to hold. So if Kiwoom does not release the right to hold, Puig will only wear Kiwoom’s uniform in the KBO League. If it is to return to the KBO League, it is likely that Kiwoom, if not, the next destination will be Taiwan.
Ko Hyung-wook, who contacted My Daily, said, “It is right that Puig left the Venezuelan league and that the Asian team contacted me,” but he was cautious about the recruitment rumor. “It is right that we recently had contact with Puig. However, our team is constantly in contact with the players who went out, including Puig and Dawson. However, the contract is not currently in progress.”
However, Puig’s recruitment rumor did not completely draw a line. If Puig is judged to be the best among foreign hitters who have made the list, he can push for re-entry. Ko Hyung-wook, the general manager, also added, “All possibilities are open.” Will Puig be able to return to the KBO League? As long as the problem related to illegal gambling has been solved, there seems to be no big obstacle.
