Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
It appears that things are finally calming down just a tiny bit for Los Angeles Dodgers rookie sensation Yasiel Puig. The media feeding frenzy is still going but he is better at dealing with it now after only a few months. His confidence on the baseball diamond remains while having softened a little bit and he looks a little more comfortable out there. It’s almost like the difference between belonging and trying to earn a spot. He knows he has a spot now so he acts a little differently.
The best thing about Puig as he changes is that most things about him are staying the same. After all it has only been a few months and we are seeing the growth of a career that could become legendary. We are also potentially seeing a career that could be a bust but I don’t honestly see how that could happen. His throws from the outfield are as accurate as ever. Hopefully he has figured out a way to avoid slamming full speed into the wall without becoming less aggressive. His batting average is coming down some but still rests around .350 which is pretty good.
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Overall the number one quality that Puig possesses is hustle. Honestly I think of Pete Rose films when I see him flying around the bases. I remember thinking that I would not want to be standing near a base when Rose was running around the bases and I get the same feeling with Puig. However he might have slumped, his defense and hustle have remained the same and that is the true mark of someone that is going to be a special player for longer than one season. Batting averages will come and go but the ability to put forth 100 percent effort all the time is something that cannot be taught.
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
