Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Everyone loves an underdog. The only thing people like better than an underdog is a young baseball prospect coming to Major League Baseball and exploding onto the scene. That is the case with Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig. Puig has blown up since arriving on the scene for the Dodgers. Don Mattingly and the Dodgers wanted a spark from Puig and boy have they gotten it. How long can he keep up this pace?
Well, he can’t keep this pace up for very long or this would be double-A instead of the major leagues. The big boys on the mound will adjust and find a way to get Puig out consistently. When they find that it will be the hot youngster’s job to adjust his approach in return. Only then will we know just how great of a move it was to bring Puig up.
As good of a bonus as he has been, it would be quite a letdown if he suddenly hit a 0 for 20 streak and was more frustrated than ever. Let’s be honest. Anyone can be a pleasant presence in the clubhouse when they are on a homer stretch like this guy is. The question of how good of a long term impact can he have will be answered within a month I suppose.
The good news is that the Dodgers have gotten the lift they needed from Puig being called up. Even if he winds up back in the minors after the all-star break, he has provided a spark and cemented a serious look at the major leagues full time, if not guaranteeing a spot already. For now Puig and the Dodgers make up a completely different team than the Dodgers were without him. Dodger fans just hope it lasts for the rest of the season.
David Miller is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @davidmillerrant, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google+.
