Yasiel Puig wants to make baseball fun again, just like his self-proclaimed “idol,” Bryce Harper.
In an interview with Marly Rivera of ESPN The Magazine, Puig revealed his 10 motivations behind his recent transformation and gave a significant shout-out to Harper in the process.
“Bryce Harper is my idol now. I’m going to join him in the ‘make baseball fun again’ campaign; I’m just waiting to get my shirts and baseball caps. He’s always been a great friend and a great athlete, and I admire him. I like how he plays the game, and I think he gets it. It’s good to see an American player saying that there needs to be a little more fun in baseball. Fans leave everything behind to come and see us play. We have to make baseball fun for the fans and not take everything so personal.”
As you might have heard by now, Harper has been campaigning heartily now for the past couple of months for MLB to change its attitude towards players demonstratively celebrating their on-field achievements. Things like pitchers getting pumped after strike-outs or hitters flipping their bats have been looked at by most in the community as uncouth. That doesn’t sit well with Harper or Puig, who wants to emulate the Washington Nationals right fielder.
One of the things Harper has done is wear shirts and hats with “Make Baseball Fun Again” emblazoned on the front (check it out here). The Nationals have gotten behind Harper in his endeavor, selling “Make Baseball Fun Again” merchandise in team stores.
As Puig said in his interview, he’s a bit behind the eight ball on this front, but it would certainly help the movement if he did get some merchandise of his own to wear.
Puig also revealed the team’s new manager, Dave Roberts, has helped him thrive this season and that he clashed with Don Mattingly, which we all saw last year.
To this point in the season, Puig has yet to see his new attitude translate to success at the plate, however. Batting .243 with just three home runs and 12 RBI, he needs to step it up for the Dodgers to get moving in the wins column. Los Angeles is just 16-15 right now, struggling to stay above .500. Thankfully, so is the rest of the National League West.
Once Puig’s bat starts heating up, so should LA’s offense, which needs a spark.