By AM Gonzalez
Controversial Cuban baseball player Yasiel Puig continues to be the talk of the KBO and now the Kiwoom Heroes team, where he played last season, made an official statement on December 1 regarding the contract with the Cuban slugger.
In this opportunity, the official Twitter accounts of Dan Kurtz (@MyKBO) and Daniel Kim (@DanielKimW) replicated the decision of the Asian team not to renew Puig’s contract for 2023. The club makes this decision after the recent allegations and legal uncertainties surrounding the Cuban outfielder, who faces charges of gambling in an illegal operation and, he himself pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI.
Kiwoom has decided to not renew their contract with Yasiel Puig https://t.co/QFu7zvpod4
— Dan Kurtz (@MyKBO) December 2, 2022
#KiwoomHeroes just announced that they will NOT sign Yasiel Puig for 2023 season. The club initially planned to bring back the OF, but w/ uncertainty surrounding his legal issues, front office has decided to move on and bring in a new player. #KBO pic.twitter.com/bfOIa4wuwG
— Daniel Kim 대니얼 김 (@DanielKimW) December 2, 2022
Puig placed 899 bets on soccer, basketball and tennis during 2019, for which he faces a five-year prison sentence as reported by Front Office Sports on its social networks. Although new evidence led the outfielder to withdraw his guilty plea and would potentially clear him of all charges, the Korean team potentially wants to avoid any “bad press” or distractions that could come up with the incident.
Former MLB star Yasiel Puig has pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about placing bets in an illegal gambling operation.
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) November 15, 2022
Puig, who recently played in South Korea, placed 899 bets on football, basketball, and tennis over three months in 2019.
He faces up to five years in prison. pic.twitter.com/DqWVemKcBb
Yet, it is obvious that the Cienfuegos native still has a lot to offer, and any MLB team or any other Caribbean club could benefit from his bat and glove once his legal issues are over.
