Key keywords: Yasiel Puig, two home runs debut, Canadian baseball team, possible prison sentence, former MLB outfielder, independent league baseball, federal tax evasion charges, 2024 sentencing hearing, Edmonton Riverhawks, MLB veteran Former MLB All-Star outfielder Yasiel Puig delivered a jaw-dropping performance in his debut for the Edmonton Riverhawks, a Canadian independent league team, last weekend, crushing two home runs to lead his new squad to a 12-2 victory over a rival club, just 21 days before his scheduled federal sentencing for tax evasion charges that could send him to prison for multiple years. The 33-year-old Cuban native, who burst onto the MLB scene with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2013 as one of the most electrifying young talents in the sport, finished his debut 3-for-4 at the plate with 5 runs batted in, drawing standing ovations from the sold-out crowd of 4,200 fans at Edmonton’s RE/MAX Field. Ticket sales for the Riverhawks jumped 310% in the week after Puig’s signing was announced, with fans traveling from across Alberta and even parts of British Columbia to catch a glimpse of the former big-league star in action. Puig’s on-field success comes amid a long-running legal battle that has derailed his once-promising MLB career. In December 2023, he pleaded guilty to two counts of filing false tax returns, admitting he hid more than $1.7 million in income from autograph signings, international playing contracts, and endorsement deals between 2016 and 2018. Under the terms of his plea agreement with federal prosecutors, Puig faces a recommended sentence of 18 to 24 months in federal prison, though a judge could choose to impose a longer sentence of up to 5 years at the July 17, 2024 hearing in Los Angeles. Speaking to reporters after his debut, Puig acknowledged his legal troubles while focusing on his love for the game. “I know I made mistakes, and I will take responsibility for everything I did,” he said. “Right now, I am just grateful for this opportunity the Riverhawks gave me to be on the field, play the sport I love, and make fans happy. I don’t know what the future holds, but I am going to give 100% every game until I can’t anymore.” Riverhawks general manager Steve Lebsock defended the team’s decision to sign Puig, noting that the outfielder has been a positive influence on the team’s young minor-league players during practice. “We know the situation he is in, but we believe everyone deserves a chance to do what they love while they work to make amends,” Lebsock said. “His talent speaks for itself, and the energy he has brought to our clubhouse and our fan base is something we could have never imagined. If his sentencing allows for probation or a delayed reporting date, we would love to have him stay for the rest of the season.” MLB analysts have noted that Puig’s recent run in Canada could be the final chapter of his professional baseball career if he is handed a lengthy prison sentence. Many long-time fans have shared mixed reactions to his return to the field, celebrating his on-field talent while acknowledging the seriousness of his criminal charges.