Yasiel Puig speed control: Dodgers outfielder hires a driver

Baby, you can drive my car …

Ah, Yasiel Puig. A humongous bundle of energy and unpredictability. Talent almost shoots out of his pores. He can do almost anything, which is both good and bad.

He can unleash a laser throw to the plate or to places unknown, allowing the runner to take an extra base. He can help out a neighborhood Little League team or drive 110 mph with his mother in the car.

But for all those hoping the 23-year-old outfielder will finally learn from his mistakes, comes this: He’s hired a driver.

After two arrests for reckless driving, the latest in Florida with his mother, Puig has apparently surrendered the wheel. Dodgers president Stan Kasten told KLAC-AM (570) Thursday that for now Puig has hired his cousin to drive him around.

“I give him credit for taking that step if nothing else,” Kasten told radio hosts Mark Willard and Ben Lyons.

No word on his cousin’s driving record, but in theory it should be an improvement. Puig was arrested for reckless driving in Florida two weeks ago. He was also arrested for going 97 mph in a 50-mph zone while with double-A Chattanooga in April; a judge dismissed that for his community service. Both times he was apparently driving without proof of insurance.

Kasten said both he and General Manager Ned Colletti have spoken to Puig after his recent arrest, but Kasten said he also went to Chattanooga, Tenn., after the first one to talk to his mercurial outfielder.

“I sat him down myself when that happened and made it clear what we expect of him,” Kasten told 570. “I said then that, even if he thinks he can get away with it because he’s in Chattanooga, if you ever get to the big leagues, nothing -- nothing -- is going to escape attention. He brought that up to me today.”