Former Los Angeles Dodgers star Yasiel Puig is facing a potentially lengthy prison sentence after federal prosecutors filed a sentencing memorandum requesting 18 months behind bars for his recent convictions on obstruction of justice and making false statements.

The filing, submitted Tuesday in a California court, also calls for three years of supervised probation and a $55,000 fine. Prosecutors argue the sentence reflects the severity of Puig's crimes and his lack of remorse, while serving as a deterrent for others considering similar offenses.

Puig, who electrified baseball fans during his MLB career, was found guilty in February for his involvement in an illegal sports gambling ring in 2019 and subsequently lying to investigators about it during interviews years later. The case marks a dramatic fall for the once-celebrated outfielder who helped lead the Dodgers to multiple postseason appearances.

His attorney, Keri Curtis Axel, is pushing for a far lighter punishment, noting Puig's status as a first-time offender. "Yasiel Puig is a first-time offender who has already been punished through years of prosecution, reputational damage, financial consequences, and the effective destruction of his professional life," Axel stated. "A prison sentence is not proportional to the conduct and would not accomplish any rehabilitative purpose here."

The legal saga took an unusual turn when Puig initially agreed to a plea deal but later backed out, choosing to take his chances at trial. That decision proved costly when jurors returned guilty verdicts on all counts.

Prosecutors emphasized in their memo that the requested sentence "punishes defendant and deters both defendant and those contemplating committing similar offenses." The court now has discretion to determine Puig's fate, with the defense expected to formally request probation rather than prison time.