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Trevor Bauer became a professional baseball player again in the United States.
The Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball announced that the 2020 National League Cy Young Award winner will pitch for them this season.
“I can’t wait to compete in front of the American fans again this season,” Bauer said. “The Ducks have welcomed some incredible players to our organization, and I’m excited to be a part of that tradition.”
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Trevor Bauer of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts to the strikeout of Trent Grisham of the San Diego Padres to end the sixth inning of a game at PETCO Park on June 23, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Some of these players include Dontrelle Willis, Daniel Murphy, Rich Hill and Eric Gagne. New York Mets legends Gary Carter and Bud Harrelson both managed the team, the latter also being a part-owner.
The team announced that Bauer will start the team’s first game on April 21 and will be mic’d up for all games and practices “for the purpose of creating content that will be featured on his and the team’s social media channels.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Trevor to Long Island,” said Ducks President/CBO Michael Pfaff. “His talent and knowledge will be important additions to our ballclub, and we are pleased to provide him with this opportunity to showcase his talents to MLB clubs while providing fans with unprecedented access to Ducks baseball.”
This June will mark the fifth anniversary of Bauer’s last appearance, as the reigning 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 hit with sexual assault allegations, which ultimately led to a 324-game suspension (the equivalent of two seasons), reduced to 184, for violating the league’s joint policy on domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse.
Bauer pitched in Japan in 2023 and 2025, while a stint in Mexico took place in 2024. He pitched to 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.
Nearly two years ago, Bauer said he “may have no choice” but to sue Major League Baseball “if I continue to be cut” from the league. Bauer said he would “play for the league minimum,” but he has yet to sign with an MLB team.
Trevor Bauer of Diablos Rojos reacts during an exhibition game between the Diablos Rojos and the New York Yankees at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu on March 24, 2024, in Mexico City, Mexico. (Manuel Velasquez/Getty Images)
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“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 in January 2024. “I would like to be an example that you can make mistakes, recognize them, adjust 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.
Last June, Hill was ordered to pay Bauer more than $300,000 for violating terms of the settlement. Hill violated their settlement agreement by discussing Bauer on podcasts and in public appearances, the Los Angeles Times reported.
He recently called out MLB after Pete Rose and other deceased former baseball players were removed from the league’s permanent ineligibility list.
Trevor Bauer of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on after giving up a hit to Joey Gallo of the Texas Rangers during the fifth inning at Dodger Stadium on June 12, 2021, in Los Angeles, California. (Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
“So, since Pete is back now, does this apply to everyone who was blackballed?” Bauer asked about X. “Or do you actually have to be guilty of something to be able to claim that?”
At the time of the allegations, Bauer was aiming for a 2.59 ERA with the Dodgers.
