Former MLB outfielder Yasiel Puig has been found guilty of lying to federal officials and obstruction of justice in a gambling probe. Details:

The verdict came after a multiweek trial that featured testimony from Major League Baseball officials and Donny Kadokawa, a Hawaii baseball coach that Puig placed bets through. Puig now faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

Puig initially pled guilty to a felony charge of lying to federal agents investigating an illegal gambling operation. …

But he changed his tune months later, announcing that he was switching his plea to not guilty because of "significant new evidence," according to a statement from his attorneys in Los Angeles.

There will likely be an appeal, based on this claim if nothing else:

His attorneys said that Puig, who has a third-grade education, had untreated mental-health issues and did not have his own interpreter or criminal legal counsel with him during the interview with federal investigators where he purportedly lied.

On the other hand:

The government argued that he intentionally misled the federal investigators. They played in court audio clips of Puig speaking English and brought expert witnesses to testify on Puig's cognitive abilities, the New York Times reported.

Yasiel, I expect the government to go hardcore during the sentencing/penalty phase.

12 comments

  1. What a shame. Yasiel puig was a rising star and he just had to ruin it. I have no idea why players want more when they’re already getting paid so much to throw a ball, catch a ball, hit a ball, and run

  2. So much potential wasted by this guy. All the talent in the world and he couldn’t stop acting like a donkey

  9. Man.. I’d love to hear Scully give his take on this matter..

    “Yasiel Puig.. oh where to start, where to begin. Ohtani deals…”

  10. They roasted him saying he has a third grade education.

    I don’t get why anyone pleads guilty at first. It’s almost standard to plead not guilty at the start.

  11. ” untreated mental-health issues” is one way to describe a guy who would smell a bat on national tv

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