Seoul: In a determined bid to turn around the fortunes of the Kiwoom Heroes, Yasiel Puig has rejoined the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) club with the ambition of spearheading their return to postseason play. The former Los Angeles Dodgers star, who previously helped the Heroes reach the Korean Series in 2022, expressed his commitment to uplifting the team after they languished at the bottom of the standings in his absence over the past two seasons.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Puig emphasized his disdain for losing and voiced his resolve to elevate the Heroes from their 10th place finish. "I don't like to lose. I didn't come here to lose and be in 10th place," Puig stated before a preseason match against the Lotte Giants at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. He highlighted the significance of team performance over individual accolades, drawing on past successes with former teammates Lee Jung-hoo and Kim Hye-seong, both now pursuing careers in Major League Baseball.
Despite not having played since March 10 due to back spasms, Puig remains optimistic about his contribution to the upcoming season, which kicks off on Saturday. Heroes manager Hong Won-ki has opted to hold Puig back from preseason games, confident that the former All-Star will be prepared for Opening Day. Puig himself downplayed the importance of these games, citing ample preparation during spring training.
The Kiwoom Heroes have shown promising form in the preseason, leading the KBO with 12 home runs. Manager Hong acknowledged Puig's mentorship role, which has fostered a conducive environment for younger players. Puig expressed his enthusiasm for working with his teammates, recognizing the mutual benefits of their collaboration. "I am so excited to be part of this team to help everybody and help myself," he remarked.
Puig will join forces with outfielder Ruben Cardenas, as the Heroes uniquely field two foreign hitters and one foreign pitcher, contrasting with the league's standard setup. When questioned about feeling additional pressure due to this arrangement, Puig dismissed concerns about personal statistics, focusing instead on the collective goal of reaching the playoffs once more.
With 21 home runs and 73 RBIs to his name from the 2022 season, Puig remains steadfast in his objective to elevate the Kiwoom Heroes from their recent struggles, aspiring to lead them to a more competitive standing in the KBO.