Hard to imagine a player whose actual trip to the Majors was met with more obstacles than Yasiel Puig’s. The Cuban import signed with the Dodgers in 2012 for $42 million after a treacherous journey [in his 13thattempt] from his homeland—a story involving Mexican drug cartels and secretive island safe houses with more plot twists than a Michael Mann thriller. Puig debuted with the big club on June 2 2013 and made an instant splash hitting four home runs and driving in ten runs to win National League Player of the Week in his very first week. He continued to impress as a rookie batting .319 with 19homers over 104 games and helping the Dodgers win the N.L. West Division. “Wild Horse”—as Vin Scully so eloquently dubbed him—continues to showcase his five tools like hybrid between Bo Jackson and Roberto Clemente making plays in the outfield you have to see to believe.

Featured here is the bat Puig swung to hit home run #14 on Sept. 1 2013 of his rookie campaign and it was an important one. Tied 1-1 in the bottom of the 6th Yasiel launched the first pitch he saw from Padres pitcher Dale Thayer into the left-center field seats. He went 2 for 4that day and his solo shot turned out to be the game-winner for the Dodgers as they held on for the 2-1 victory behind a strong Zack Greinke outing. What’s more Puig did it on “Cuban Heritage Day” at Dodgers Stadium to which a proud Vin Scully calls out during his HR call in the video below.

The piece of lumber has been conclusively photo-matched to the 9/1/13 home run by the experts at Resolution Photomatching. It includes documentation from MLB Authenticated explaining that Puig cracked it the following game in Colorado. The 34.5” and 34-oz. two-toned Old Hickory professional model bat shows outstanding use with ball marks and stitch impression sthroughout the barrel as well as a moderate coat of pine tar covering the handle. The handle is blue from Puig’s batting gloves. A piece of black protective medical tape covers the 4” handle crack—this is how the bat was received by MLB. The barrel is labeled “34.5 PRO MAPLE YP66” and LDMX-1307570-YP1” with his name below. A blue Dodgers sticker with Puig’s No. 66 in red is affixed to the knob. Terrific rookie HR gamer. The 2017 season represented a tremendous turnaround for the now26-year-old. He set career highs in home runs (28) RBI (74) and stolen bases(15) while playing outstanding defense in right field for the N.L. West Champions. He has had some big hits in the 2017 postseason as Big Blue seeks its first World Series title since 1988. MLB Auth. # EK 816887.LOA from Resolution Photomatching matching the bat to 9/1/13 HR.