The big buzz in L.A. is when (not if) Yasiel Puig will be called up to the Dodgers.
photo by Tim Evearitt
The LA Dodgers announced late Sunday they have called up Yasiel Puig from the Chattanooga Lookouts.
The highly-touted Puig left Chattanooga before Sunday's game with the Mississippi Braves. Playing without their star, the Lookouts pulled out to a 2-0 lead, but lost 4-2.
The much-anticipated announcement was made after Sunday's 7-2 loss to the Rockies.
Puig is expected to be in the starting lineup when the Dodgers face the Padres in Dodger Stadium on Monday.
Prior to the call, there had not been this much speculation in the Lookouts' community since 2001 when Adam Dunn was moved to Triple-A Louisville and then on to the Cincinnati Reds.
When Puig arrived in Chattanooga this past April, it was clear that his playing time here would be limited after the 22-year old Cuban had an outstanding spring in the Dodgers' training camp.
Puig has played in 40 games for Chattanooga.
The move happened after Carl Crawford's left hamstring injury left the team seriously short-handed in the outfield Sunday against the Rockies. Room would be made for Puig -- the organization's top prospect according to MLB.com -- by returning Sunday's spot starter, 2012 Lookouts' pitcher Matt Magill, to Triple-A Albuquerque.
Crawford said the tightness and soreness he now feels is similar to an injury earlier in the season, when he missed two games. He was unavailable Sunday when another former Lookout, Scott Van Slyke started in left field.
Also, Dodger centerfielder Matt Kemp is on the disabled list.
------ Source: MLB.com