Yasiel Puig’s Wild Horse Foundation takes flight

By Jon Weisman

Yasiel Puig is in the Dominican Republic this week, distributing supplies and more to the needy through his newly created Wild Horse Foundation.

Puig is working with Manny Mota and his foundation, according to Manny’s son José, who passed along the above photos.

“The giveaway happened in the Santo Domingo section called El Tamarindo,” José Mota said. “It was just a special appearance by Yasiel to make the Christmas season better for those families.

“Puig’s foundation took the initiative to make this event possible,” Mota said. “Because my mom and dad have done it for so many years, he felt comfortable imitating (and) joining their efforts this Christmas season.”

Mota added that today, Puig enabled 50 underprivileged kids to watch a playoff baseball game (which unfortunately was rained out) in Santo Domingo, providing tickets, bus transportation and food.

In addition, Puig is continuing his conditioning program and working with Manny on his hitting, according to José.

The name of Puig’s foundation, of course, embraces the nickname Vin Scully gave him as a rookie in 2013.

While Puig is in the Dominican, teammates Joc Pederson and Corey Seager are in Hawaii to host to a youth baseball camp, along with a home run derby. As Taryn Hatcher of Hawaii News Now notes, a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Kemoeatu Brothers Foundation, which aims to improve the lives of underprivileged youth in Hawaii.