Puigmania Has Increased Attendance and Drove Up Prices of Dodgers Tickets by 88%

After joining the Los Angeles Dodgers in the beginning of June, Yasiel Puig has hit seven home runs and batted .420. During the same time, Dodgers fans have increased the average price for Dodger tickets by 88%. Puig’s first two career games, the Dodgers had an average just over 37,000 fans. Since, they have drawn less than 40,000 fans once, a Monday night game against the Diamondbacks.

At Puig’s current pace, he would launch approximately 50 homers in an entire season, but for just about anyone who has followed Puig, you know that his game consists of much more than just the long ball. His first game, Puig not only had two hits but he also ended the game on an outfield assist. During his first trip to Yankee stadium last week, he homered and laid down a bunt single in his second. He was close to throwing someone out at first from right field on what seemed like a routine single.

Puig is only the 2nd player in the modern era to hit four home runs in his first five games. In his first nine starts, which constitutes a quarter of the season, Valenzuela was a perfect 8-0 with a 0.50 ERA and five shutouts. He was only the second player in the modern era to notch 8 wins in his first nine starts. He also led the Dodgers to a World Series championship. At 36-42, the 2013 Dodgers would be happy to just make the playoffs. Either way, though, Puig’s 7-year, $42 million dollar deal is looking like a steal. Puig has only played in 21 games, or 12% of a full season, but in that time the Dodgers have a winning record. If he can sustain his pace, it will be an exciting summer at Dodger Stadium.