Federal prosecutors requested former Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig receive prison time after being convicted by a jury of obstructing justice and lying to authorities—both of which are felonies.
Puig was federally charged in February in connection with allegations he had placed illegal bets on sporting events while still in the midst of his MLB career. Prosecutors presented evidence over the course of 13 days, showing Puig placed bets through an intermediary and accrued more than a quarter-million dollars in debt.
After he settled said debt, he continued to place more than 800 online bets on various sports and raised his debt to a nearly $1 million sum, though he never paid it according to federal officers.
Per Sam Blum of The Athletic, prosecutors are requesting Puig serves 18 months in prison along with three years of supervised release afterwards. Additionally, they requested he pay $55,200 in fines. Puig’s attorney, Keri Curtis Axel, stated the defense did not agree with the recommendation of prison time.
“Yasiel Puig is a first-time offender who has already been punished through years of prosecution, reputational damage, financial consequences, and the effective destruction of his professional life,” Axel wrote via text. “A prison sentence is not proportional to the conduct and would not accomplish any rehabilitative purpose here. The Court has complete discretion over the sentence, and the defense will request a sentence of probation.”
Puig will be sentenced in Los Angeles on May 26.
Oct 26, 2018; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig (66) reacts while a play is under review in the tenth inning against the Boston Red Sox in game three of the 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
What Will Happen to Yasiel Puig’s Baseball Career?
While Puig was once a star for the Dodgers, he hasn’t featured for any MLB team in more than half a decade.
Currently, he plays with the Canadian Baseball League’s Toronto Maple Leafs—not to be confused with the NHL team with the same name. He has played just one game for his new team, going 2-for-2 with two home runs, four RBIs, two walks and three runs.
Before leaving to play in international leagues, Puig spent six seasons with the Dodgers and played 712 games with the team. He had an .831 OPS during his time in LA, hitting 108 homers and driving in 331 runs.
The Dodgers traded Puig after the 2018 season, sending him to the Cincinnati Reds for what would be his last season in MLB. He split the year with the Reds and the Cleveland Guardians, who traded for him at the deadline.
He had a .785 OPS with 24 homers and 84 RBIs in his final MLB season.
