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Yasiel Puig 2019 Outlook: Midwestern Dynamo
6 years agoDespite being one of the most dynamic players in the game, Puig’s last three seasons have been riddled with undercurrents of frustration and disappointment. Even in 2017 when he hit 28 home runs and stole 15 bases, there were grumblings about a lack of effort and his on-field antics. Certainly, Puig’s repeated injury issues and expressiveness have contributed to that, but it’s hard to ignore that Puig has been a very good player who many owners, including this author, nearly wrote off last year. In 2018, Puig generated another strong fantasy season of 23 HR and 15 SB, but time on the DL and his modest run (60) and RBI (63) numbers held him out of the elite tier. The trade to Cincinnati was probably a best-case scenario for both Puig and his fantasy value. The Reds have a solid offense with some exciting young players in a hitter-friendly ballpark that should turn several of Puig’s pop-outs into “just enough” home runs. Puig’s injury issues are real, but if he can manage 135 games and about 525 plate appearances, managers can confidently expect 24 HR, 80 runs, 80 RBI, and 12 SB, with a .270 batting average. Puig is currently going in the 10th round of drafts.
