Yasiel Puig set for return to South Korea in 2025

Field Level Media|published: Thu 14th November, 16:12 2024

Cincinnati Reds right fielder Yasiel Puig (66) exits the field for the final time as a Reds player at the end of the top of the ninth inning of the MLB National League game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Pittsburgh Pirates at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday, July 30, 2019. The Pirates won 11-4. Pittsburgh Pirates At Cincinnati Reds

Former Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig is set to return to South Korea for the 2025 season after he revealed on social media that he signed with the Kiwoom Heroes.

The commitment will require Puig to leave his winter league team, Tiburones de La Guaira in Venezuela, per Kiwoom's request.

Puig, 33, has not played in the major leagues since 2019 when he batted a combined .267 with 24 home runs and 84 RBIs over 149 games with the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians.

In six seasons (712 games) for the Dodgers, Puig batted .279 with 108 home runs and 331 RBIs, finishing second in voting for National League Rookie of the Year in 2013 and playing in his lone All-Star Game in 2014.

In 126 games for Kiwoom in 2022, Puig batted .277 with 21 home runs and 73 RBIs. Last season, he played for El Aguila de Veracruz in the Mexican League and batted .314 with 18 home runs and 43 RBIs in 64 games.

Puig became a United States citizen in 2019. He has faced legal issues in the U.S. that include multiple sexual assault accusations, as well as multiple reports in 2022 that he placed wagers with an illegal sports betting operation.

--Field Level