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Why Yasiel Puig makes perfect sense for the Atlanta Braves

By Seth Carter

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 27: Yasiel Puig #66 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after hitting a three run home run during the sixth inning of game four of the 2018 World Series against the Boston Red Sox on October 27, 2018 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 27: Yasiel Puig #66 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after hitting a three run home run during the sixth inning of game four of the 2018 World Series against the Boston Red Sox on October 27, 2018 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) /
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Yasiel Puig with the Dodgers (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Atlanta Braves – The other thing you may not be considering

The novel coronavirus will likely continue to strike throughout the season. This is a year that you simply cannot have too much depth. With Puig added to the roster, it allows guys who might be going through a bad streak to relax as the team’s fate won’t ride on their shoulders.

Duvall and Riley might be better utilized as matchup plays rather than everyday roles. In the event that Ender gets hurt, or Ozuna gets sick, we still have plenty of options to surround Acuna in the outfield.

Just enjoy the list of outfielders for a minute. Not one weak spot defensively.

  • Ronald Acuna Jr.
  • Marcell Ozuna
  • Yasiel Puig
  • Ender Inciarte
  • Adam Duvall
  • Austin Riley

One man makes up 11% of the batting lineup. Puig is a difference-maker, a proven commodity, and a former All-Star. We don’t have to hope he doesn’t strike out 41% of the time. He’s not going to. 

Puig is a lineup extender. While he never achieved a superstar status that many believed he would in his first season, he brings a track record of consistency with a career .277 average, .348 on-base percentage, and .475 slugging percentage. His career OPS+ is 122.

Puig has stolen double-digit bases in five different seasons, with a career-high 19 last season. He has excelled defensively in right field with all 28 of his career defensive runs saved coming from the position.

Puig has a postseason batting average of .280 with a .351 on-base percentage in 58 games.

We may see a lot of variations of the potential lineup, but no matter how you cut it, it’s a good group of guys.

  • Acuna
  • Albies
  • Freeman
  • Ozuna
  • Puig
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