The Dodgers made the last splash to the international market recently (before the new CBA took affect) with the signing of Yasiel Puig (pronounced pweeg). The 21 year old 6’ 3” 210 lbs slugger is considered to be more polished than Soler but not as MLB ready as Cespedes at this time. His time with the Cuban National team as their starting CF is what attracted all the attention from half a dozen MLB teams.
In his last full year of baseball he batted .330 with 17HR, 47 RBI and 78 R in 327 ABs. With those numbers he added an impressive .430 OBP hitting in the top half of the Cuban line-up. Puig who was considered the fastest player in Cuban baseball has not played organized ball in nearly a year and is not yet in baseball shape.
The Dodgers will send him to Rookie ball in Arizona to start. From all the scouting reports I have poured over, the scouts see him as a true 5 tool player who will slide over to LF and become a 20/20 man who will hit .280 year in and year out. The comparisons I have read from scouts say he is a player that reminds them of a young Sammy Sosa, a faster Vlad Guerreo, and a long term Moises Alou type. He looks to have legitimate opposite field pop and a strong willingness to go that way.
Long term I would compare him to a Choo or Cory Hart type of player. I project him to hit 2nd in a couple of years behind Dee Gordon and in from of Kemp. The Dodgers could have well over 100 SB from the 1-3 hole hitters as early as 2013. If you can grab him now for your Dynasty League you will not be disappointed.
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