SBNation.com - Yasiel Puig arrested for reckless driving in Floridahttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46737/sbn-fave.png2014-01-28T15:51:15-05:00http://www.sbnation.com/rss/stream/50211172014-01-28T15:51:15-05:002014-01-28T15:51:15-05:00Yasiel Puig's reckless driving charge dropped
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<p>The State of Florida determined that Yasiel Puig's arrest for speeding didn't warrant a reckless driving charge.</p> <p>The reckless driving charge given to <span>Yasiel Puig</span> stemming from an incident in late December has been dropped, according to <a href="http://www.tmz.com/2014/01/28/yasiel-puig-reckless-driving-case-dropped-florida/" target="_blank">a report from TMZ Sports</a>.</p>
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<p>On Dec. 28, the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Los Angeles Dodgers</a> outfielder was arrested by a Florida Highway Patrol officer for reckless driving. Puig was reportedly driving 110 mph on a 70-mph highway in a white Mercedes with his mother, cousin and a friend as passengers in the vehicle. The incident marked the second time Puig had been arrested for reckless driving in 2013, and at the time, Puig's arrest caused a bit of a stir within the media, with a Dodgers spokesman <a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="http://www.tmz.com/2013/12/30/yasiel-puig-arrest-killed-mother-speeding-florida/" target="_blank">stating the team was "disappointed"</a> in the outfielder's actions.</p>
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<p>Nevertheless, the state has dropped the case against Puig under the rationale that "speeding alone on an open highway doesn't constitute 'reckless driving' and he wasn't doing anything else to warrant a charge other than 'speeding.'" If Puig had been convicted, he would have been sentenced to 90 days in jail, according to TMZ.</p>
<p>The 23-year-old experienced a tumultuous first season in the majors, repeatedly finding himself a target of the media and the wider baseball community due to his on-field antics and off-field behavior. On Aug. 20, the Dodgers fined Puig for arriving late to the ballpark prior to the team's game against the <a href="https://www.fishstripes.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Miami Marlins</a>, and the outfielder often clashed with manager Don Mattingly, who benched him on numerous occasions.</p>
<p>Puig excelled on the field, however, hitting .319/.391/.534 with 19 home runs and 42 RBI after the Dodgers called him up from Double-A in early June. The right fielder's performance helped spur the club's remarkable run to the NL West title, even if Puig did struggle in the team's loss to the <a href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Cardinals</a> in the NLCS.</p>
<p>The Cuban native will enter his second year in the big leagues in 2014 after receiving a seven-year, $42 million contract last offseason. Despite his off-the-field antics and the highway speeding, there is little doubt that Puig's future on the baseball diamond is quite bright.</p>
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https://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2014/1/28/5354864/yasiel-puig-reckless-driving-dodgersAlex Skillin2013-12-29T15:48:52-05:002013-12-29T15:48:52-05:00Dodgers respond to Yasiel Puig's arrest
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<p>The team released a statement on Sunday regarding its star outfielder's recent reckless driving charge.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Los Angeles Dodgers</a> have given outfielder <span>Yasiel Puig</span> a slap on the wrist for his recent arrest for reckless driving. The team released the following <a href="http://twitter.com/Dodgers/status/417387490354286593" target="_blank">statement</a> on Sunday:</p>
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<p>We have spoken to Yasiel and made it clear that we, as an organization, are very disappointed in his recent behavior. This is a very serious issue to us and we will continue to educate him and strive to further develop his growth off the field and as a member of this community.</p>
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<p>Puig <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2013/12/28/5251772/yasiel-puig-dodgers-arrested-reckless-driving-florida" target="_blank">was arrested on Saturday</a> for driving 110 miles per hour in a 70 mph zone on I-75 in Florida. It was his second reckless driving arrest in 2013, with the<a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2013/4/28/4279700/yasiel-puig-arrested-dodgers" target="_blank"> first coming in Tennessee in April</a>. The Dodgers are not issuing any public discipline at this time, such as a fine or a suspension, but this is not unusual; teams normally handle minor off-field incidents like this internally.</p>
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https://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2013/12/29/5254208/dodgers-yasiel-puig-arrest-statementAlex Hall2013-12-29T15:20:00-05:002013-12-29T15:20:00-05:00Yasiel Puig arrested for reckless driving
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<p>The Dodgers' star outfielder was driving 110 mph in a 70 zone.</p> <p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Los Angeles Dodgers</a> outfielder <span>Yasiel Puig</span> has been arrested for reckless driving in Florida, according to the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2013/dec/28/l-dodgers-all-star-yasiel-puig-arrested-after-driv/">Naples Daily News</a>. Puig was traveling 110 miles per hour in a 70 zone on a section of I-75 called Alligator Alley.</p>
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<p>This is not Puig's first run-in with the highway patrol this year. He was <a target="_blank" href="http://www.chattanoogan.com/2013/11/6/262885/Driving-Charge-Against-Dodger-Star.aspx">arrested in Hamilton County, Tenn.</a>, in April for going 97 mph in a 50 zone. Those charges were dropped in November due to Puig's otherwise clean record, his active involvement in the community, and the fact that he lived in another state.</p>
<p>The Cuban right fielder finished as the runner-up for the National League Rookie of the Year award in 2013 after bursting onto the scene by hitting .319/.391/.534 with 19 home runs in 104 games and helping the Dodgers reach the NLCS for the first time since 2009. Puig is known for his fast-paced, aggressive style of play, and his emotional (and sometimes cocky) on-field behavior was called into question multiple times during the season.</p>
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<b>More Puig updates</b>: <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/yasiel-puig" target="new">True Blue LA</a>
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<p>The team released an official statement on Puig's arrest on Sunday:</p>
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<p><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Dodgers&src=hash">#Dodgers</a> released the following statement today regarding Yasiel Puig: <a href="http://t.co/bBRkakvCJ7">pic.twitter.com/bBRkakvCJ7</a></p>
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dodgers/statuses/417387490354286593">December 29, 2013</a>
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<p>Dave Osborne of the Naples Daily News tweeted the mugshot of Puig after his arrest.</p>
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<p>Arrest mug shot of Los Angeles Dodger All-Star Yasiel <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Puig&src=hash">#Puig</a>. Read full story at <a href="http://t.co/bIvMfQFn5v">http://t.co/bIvMfQFn5v</a>. <a href="http://t.co/i1wZeXIwPx">pic.twitter.com/i1wZeXIwPx</a></p>
— Dave Osborn (@NDN_dosborn) <a href="https://twitter.com/NDN_dosborn/statuses/417077570648424452">December 28, 2013</a>
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https://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2013/12/28/5251772/yasiel-puig-dodgers-arrested-reckless-driving-floridaAlex Hall