UPDATE: Puig Incident Details Roll In

We said last night as the initial reports came in via TMZ to be careful running with the story as, you know, it’s TMZ. Turns out holding off on those reports was wise as more details came in about the incident that paint Yasiel Puig in a brighter light, but don’t necessarily aid his overall picture.

ICYMI: Dodgers Not Showing Interest in Ben Zobrist

First, let’s get to what actually happened. This, via Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times:

Miami PD spokesman: “No shoving was alleged” between Puig and his sister.

— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) November 28, 2015

Miami PD spokesman: “To the best of our knowledge, the only physical altercation was between the bouncer and Puig.”

— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) November 28, 2015

This, before anything else, is critical to the story. While the incident is still under further investigation, the apparent lack of domestic violence aids Puig initially makes the story much less potentially devastating to his immediate future. Hernandez continues:

Because Puig and bouncer didn’t have any interest in pressing charges against each other, Miami PD considers the case closed.

— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) November 28, 2015

Miami PD unsure of who started fight, Puig or bouncer. Puig says bouncer was physically aggressive. Bouncer says Puig sucker punched him.

— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) November 28, 2015

Miami PD spokesman chuckled when I told him TMZ referred to the Puig incident as a brawl. “I would say scuffle,” he said. — Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) November 28, 2015

It sounds like, legally at least, Puig is pretty much in the clear. It also fits that TMZ would jump for the more juicy details, probably provided by everyone witnessing the “brawl” from an anti-Puig or pro-bouncer standpoint. It’s good to see that cooler heads prevailed.

The overriding story here, if you’re the Dodgers, is whether you feel comfortable with Puig at this point. On one hand, professional athletes and other celebrities always have a target on their backs publicly. Most who have handled that environment typically adjusts, but it doesn’t seem like Puig has. The Dodgers have to ask themselves if they think he can make such an adjustment.

If he can, and matures after the Dodgers trade him, any deal looks pretty stupid after the fact. If they keep him and he doesn’t mature, the team has to deal with a hole at his position.

First and foremost, it’s good to see this incident wasn’t as bad as initially reported. Now, though, it’s time to look ahead and see how the organization handles the situation moving forward.