During his baseball career, Yasiel Puig made more than 25 times what the average American makes in their working life.
The Cuban-born outfielder, who later defected to Mexico before reaching the Major Leagues, earned more than $50 million playing the game in the Major Leagues, the KBO, the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol, the Liga Venezolana de Beisbol Profesional, and the Canadian Baseball League, and almost all of it is gone, according to a recent filing in his bankruptcy case.
Nicknamed "El Caballo Loco" by longtime Los Angeles Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully, Puig filed a summary of his assets and liabilities in his personal bankruptcy case in federal court earlier this month. In the filing, the former outfielder claimed assets of $1,691,285.83 and liabilities of $9,446,357.32. The average American worker makes around $1.7 million in their lifetime.
Puig's bankruptcy was filed in July in the Southern District of Florida. He is currently awaiting sentencing in federal court in the Central District of California after being convicted at trial of one count of making a false statement and one count of obstruction of justice.
His assets listed in the filing include a home on Southwest 140th Street in Miami valued at $992,000, $60,000 worth of jewelry, $10,000 worth of clothing, $10,000 of miscellaneous household goods, $10,000 of miscellaneous collectibles, a 2014 Toyota 4Runner SUV with 105,000 miles valued at $5,000. The outfielder has $15,723.41 in a checking account and $100,937.00 in a savings account, and a 100% interest in three Limited Liability Companies that hold real estate, one of which is valueless according to the filing, and the other two are valued at $143,100 and $281,000.
As for his liabilities, Puig claimed to owe $888,886.34 on the house on Southwest 140th Street in Miami, as well as $7 million to Moss Ranch LLC, a holding company for a house in Homestead, Fla., $500,000 to 1719 SW LLC, a holding company for that same house, and $409,500 to 11270 SW LLC, a holding company for a home on Northwest 78th Street in Miami.
A search of Florida corporation records showed Puig as the manager of Moss Ranch LLC, 1719 SW LLC, and 11270 SW LLC.
Previously, in a declaration filed on May 22 in Puig's criminal case, Puig's agent Lisette Carnet told the court of Puig’s dire financial straits, much of which springs from debt secured by real estate the slugger holds, including a eight-bedroom, 10 1/2-bathroom house on Moss Ranch Road in Pinecrest, Florida that he's been unable to unload.
“That property has received only two purchase offers during the past year, in the amounts of $6.5 and $7 million. Both were rejected because they were well below what Mr. Puig owes the lender for said property,” Carnet told the California court in the filing. According to the real estate website Zillow, Puig’s Pinecrest home has been listed for sale six times since March 2022 at prices ranging from $7,995,000 to $13,999,950, but hasn’t sold.
It was relisted on Aug. 6 for $7,995,000 by agent Alan Perez of Compass.
Puig's sentencing in his criminal case, which had been scheduled for July 28, was deferred by Judge Dolly M. Gee on July 24 while the court considers Puig's motion for acquittal. There have been no further filings in that case.
Meanwhile, Puig continues to play professional baseball with the Toronto Maple Leafs of the Canadian Baseball League, where he's batting .400/.505/.893 and leading the league with 21 homers in 186 plate appearances over 42 games. He also leads the CBL in on-base percentage and ranks third in RBIs with 51.