Yasiel Puig‘s lawyer denied a video released on Saturday was his client taking part in a bar fight on the eve of Thanksgiving in Miami, according to CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman. Earlier in the day, TMZ Sports claimed to show a video featuring the outfielder taking part in the altercation but later retracted the story.
“Anyone who has actually ever seen Yasiel can see clearly it’s not him,” Puig’s lawyer, Jay Reisinger, said, according to Yahoo Sports’ Jeff Passan.
Citing Miami police spokesman Maj. Delrish Moss, the Associated Press (via USA Today) reported Puig suffered “a swollen eye and facial bruises” as a result of the altercation.
On Friday, Heyman noted that “Major League Baseball is looking into it, but it’s quite possible it comes to the same conclusion as the police, who walked away after determining it was merely a late-night bar brawl between hotheads that warranted no action.”
An MLB spokesperson declined comment, according to Heyman.
The incident stemmed from a “heated” argument between Puig and his sister inside the bar, according to the original report from TMZ. After he allegedly pushed her, bar employees reportedly escorted Puig outside.
The incident didn’t do any favors to Puig’s public image, which has been tarnished over the past two seasons by some unbecoming behavior.
“He is the worst person I’ve ever seen in this game,” an ex-Dodger told Bleacher Report’s Scott Miller. “Ever.”
Puig captured the attention of the baseball world during his breakout 2013 campaign, but his production since hasn’t lived up to those high standards. After batting .319 with 19 home runs and 42 RBI in 104 games as a rookie, he hit .296 with 16 homers and 69 RBI during the 2014 season.
The 2015 campaign represented Puig’s low point to date. Limited to 79 appearances due to hamstring injuries, he batted a career-worst .255 with a meager .322 on-base percentage. Puig mustered just 11 home runs and 38 RBI.
And while speculation has thrust Puig into trade rumors during the offseason, Heyman reported the Dodgers would only deal him “if they can get a good pitcher back.” In other words, Los Angeles won’t sell low on a cost-controlled asset unless it’s blown away by an offer.
At this rate, the Dodgers need to hope Puig returns to form and makes offseason controversy a thing of the past while mounting a redemptive campaign in 2016.
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