Yasiel Puig shares thoughts on training partner Jorge Soler

Yasiel Puig made a spectacular diving catch in left-center field Saturday on a would-be extra-base hit by Jorge Soler and doubled off Chris Coghlan at second base to end a fifth-inning threat by the Chicago Cubs.

The play, which preserved the Dodgers’ 6-2 advantage, should give Puig and Soler something to talk about.

The Cuban outfielders are friends and live near each other in Miami in the offseason.

“Before spring training, we worked out together,” Puig said in Spanish.

Soler and Puig came to the United States around the same time. Soler inked a nine-year, $30-million deal with the Cubs in June 2012. Later that month, Puig signed a seven-year, $42-million contract with the Dodgers.

At the time, Soler was widely viewed as the superior prospect.

Soler, now 22, has been a source of considerable excitement since the Cubs promoted him to the major leagues last month.

He went into Saturday batting .361 with five home runs and 18 runs batted in in 17 games.

“He’s doing very good work,” Puig said. “I’m happy for him. He’s hitting well.”

In the first two games of this series, Soler was three for eight, including a triple Saturday against Clayton Kershaw.

“He faced the best pitcher in the National League – someone I consider the MVP this year – and he got a triple off him,” Puig said. “So he’s doing well.”

Puig thinks the late-season call-up will benefit Soler.

“I hope he can finish strong, so he’ll have a chance to start next season with them,” Puig said. “He hasn’t done anything yet. He can do a lot more. He’s a great player. I know he’ll continue to improve.”