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At this point, it appears Trevor Bauer is returning to Major League Baseball.
But the possibility is certainly alive after he recently threw a no-hitter for the Long Island Ducks of the Independent League.
Bauer recently shut down claims that he was “washed” on social media, saying his velocity and induced vertical break (“ride”) are now higher on fastballs than they were in 2020 when he won the Cy Young Award.
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Trevor Bauer smiles after throwing no hits for the Long Island Ducks on Sunday, April 26, 2026. (Jordan McGregor)
But what has become apparent and is keeping him out are the prior sexual assault allegations, which initially got him suspended for two full seasons before being reduced to 194 games.
Bauer continued to maintain his innocence and said he told teams he would play “for free.” On the other hand, however, Bauer once said in 2024 that he “may have no choice” but to sue the league. He also recently called out MLB after Pete Rose and other deceased former baseball players were removed from the league’s permanent ineligibility list.
“I think he needs to resolve the issues with MLB first before he gets to that level. I think one thing with Trevor Bauer is he went against MLB, and you can’t go against the hands that are really feeding you,” Pujols recently told PK Press Club Digital.
If he does, teams should jump at the chance, Pujols said.
“I had the opportunity to play with him with the (Los Angeles) Dodgers. Who doesn’t want to have Trevor Bauer on their team? Of course,” Pujols said.
“But I think at the end of the day, you know, he’s still trying, but he needs to clarify what his problem is with MLB.”
Trevor Bauer pitches for the Long Island Ducks without a hit on Sunday, April 26, 2026. (Jordan McGregor)
This June will mark the fifth anniversary of Bauer’s last appearance, as a Cy Young Award winner, in an MLB game. On June 28 of that year, he pitched six two-run innings while striking out eight batters, recording the victory. Two days later, he was accused of sexual assault, ultimately leading to the suspension for violating the league’s joint policy on domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse.
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Bauer launched in Japan in 2023 and 2025, while a stint in Mexico took place in 2024. He hit a 2.59 ERA and 9.2 K/9 in Japan in 2023, and in Mexico those numbers improved to 2.48 and 13.0. Last year in Japan, however, his ERA jumped to 4.41 and he struck out just 8.2 batters per nine innings.
“Anyone who is willing to sit down with me and listen to me: I would like to play the second half of my career in a better way than the first,” Bauer told PK Press Club Digital. January 2024. “I would like to be an example that you can make mistakes, recognize them, adapt and then be better in the future. I think that’s something that we, as humans, have to do and should do constantly.”
Bauer has maintained his innocence, settling for one accuser while another faces 16 years in prison after being charged with fraud after faking a pregnancy and asking Bauer for money for an abortion.
Bauer and Lindsey Hill, who accused the pitcher of beating and sexually abusing her in 2021, settled their case in late 2023. Bauer revealed texts from Hill, who said Bauer would be his “next victim,” among other damning messages. Hill has since said MLB has more evidence of Bauer’s alleged misconduct.
Trevor Bauer has not pitched in the major leagues since the 2021 season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. (Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports)
Last June, Hill was ordered to pay Bauer more than $300,000 for violating the terms of the settlement. Hill violated their settlement agreement by discussing Bauer on podcasts and in public appearances, the Los Angeles Times reported.
At the time of the allegations, Bauer was aiming for a 2.59 ERA with the Dodgers.
