Yasiel Puig breaks out of slump with laugh, and with mom

Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig is congratulated by teammate Alex Guerrero after hitting a two-run homer against the Oakland Athletics during the fourth inning of a game Wednesday.

Staff Writer

July 29, 2015 11:30 PM PT

Yasiel Puig was in a rather jovial mood late Wednesday night, and why not?

The Dodgers gave out Puig bobbleheads. He caught the ceremonial first pitch, from his mother. He hit a home run, making him the first Dodgers player to homer on his bobblehead night since Hanley Ramirez two years ago.

Puig drove in three runs and got two hits, after getting two hits in his previous 24 at-bats.

“It’s been, like, two months since I’ve gotten a hit,” Puig joked, via an interpreter.

The trade deadline will have come and gone the next time the Dodgers take the field, with all indications that Puig will remain with the team. He said he has “no clue” what the Dodgers might have told his agent about their intention to keep him, and he said he is not fazed by what he called the “gossip” of trade rumors.

“It’s not a distraction for me at all,” he said. “I don’t even read in English.”

Puig has seven home runs this season -- three in the last eight games.

“I just stopped playing soccer video games,” he said. “I’ve found, when I play baseball video games, I do better.”

This is the second time the Dodgers have given out Puig bobbleheads. He has four hits in seven at-bats in those two games, with a home run, double and four runs batted in.

“I’m going to ask the Dodgers to see if they can have some more bobblehead nights,” he said, “and have my mom throw out the first pitch as much as possible.”

Puig left the clubhouse clutching a Puig bobblehead doll.

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