LOS ANGELES -- After two incidents of reckless driving in eight months, Yasiel Puig has decided to relinquish the steering wheel.
Los Angeles Dodgers president Stan Kasten said he spoke with Puig on Thursday, and the 23-year-old outfielder told him he has hired a cousin to drive him around for the time being.
"I give him credit for taking that step if nothing else," Kasten said during a radio appearance on ESPNLA 710.
In April, Puig was clocked going 97 mph in a 50 mph zone in Tennessee, but he had those reckless driving and speeding charges dismissed after serving 12 hours of community service. Puig was charged with reckless driving again last month for allegedly driving 110 mph in a 70 mph zone in Florida.
Puig batted .319 with 19 home runs in 104 games last season, finishing second to Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez in National League Rookie of the Year balloting.
Kasten and general manager Ned Colletti both spoke with Puig after his latest run-in with law enforcement. Kasten said he also traveled to Tennessee to meet with the Cuban defector after his first incident, which came while Puig was with the Dodgers' Double-A team.
"I sat him down myself when that happened and made it clear what we expect of him," Kasten said. "I said then that, even if he thinks he can get away with it because he's in Chattanooga, if you ever get to the big leagues, nothing -- nothing -- is going to escape attention. He brought that up to me today."
Florida authorities released video of Puig's December arrest on Wednesday. The video shows the officer scolding Puig for driving his white Mercedes so fast while his mother was in the car. Puig later pleads with the officer to let him go.
