[ad_1]
LOS ANGELES – Yasiel Puig arrived late at Dodger Stadium on Monday when he returned to Los Angeles for the first time since his exchange with the Cincinnati Reds.
The Cuban star failed to receive his National League Championship ring in person from Dodgers owner Mark Walter and other front desk staff.
They presented the jewelry to former Dodgers Matt Kemp, Alex Wood and Kyle Farmer at an informal meeting in front of the Reds clubhouse.
"We are only six to share stories, to say hello and more, to thank them for what they have done to help us accomplish what we accomplished last year and wish them all the best. good luck, "said Dave Roberts, head of the Dodgers.
Asked about missing the rally, Puig said, "He can send the ring to my locker or give it to me at the baton training.I can give it to me in person, I'm going to record it. . "
Roberts giggled when asked if he was happy to be part of the other team when the Puig name will be quoted.
"Yes, I'm happy," he said with a smile.
Roberts said he and Puig "were good," and that they were in touch by SMS and a phone call during the spring training.
"This guy did a lot of things in the community and helped the Dodgers do a lot of good things," said the manager.
Puig also is presented with 70 minutes late at a press conference scheduled with local media.
He answered questions in English and Spanish for several minutes when Kenley Jansen, close to Dodgers, suddenly appeared behind a wall of television cameras to greet Puig with a hug.
"Papi," said Puig while his former teammates had kissed each other.
Reds manager David Bell said Puig had "absolutely" been punctual with his new team.
"But that would not be the first thing I would talk about," he said. "It would be more about how he played the game and his teammate than he was – he was outstanding – we love having him here."
Puig was part of a seven-player deal with Cincinnati in December including Kemp, Wood and Farmer.
The Cuban player should beat third place, just ahead of Kemp, in the opening game of the three-game series.
Turner Ward, the former Dodgers strike coach employed in the same role as the Reds, was working in the batting cage when Walter, baseball operations president Andrew Friedman, team president Stan Kasten and Roberts went to the visitors' pavilion to present the rings.
—
More MLB AP: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports
[ad_2]
Source link