Trevor Bauer, the former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher and 2020 National League Cy Young Award winner, has signed with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. The move comes after Bauer’s MLB career was effectively ended by a suspension following sexual assault allegations. He will make his debut for the Ducks on April 21, with the team announcing he will be mic’d up for all games and practices for content creation.
Bauer was suspended for violating MLB’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy in 2021, receiving a 324-game suspension later reduced to 184 games. He has not pitched in MLB since then but played in Japan and Mexico in recent years. The Ducks’ president, Michael Pfaff, expressed excitement about Bauer’s addition, noting his talent and knowledge as valuable assets.
Bauer’s signing marks a return to professional baseball in the U.S. after his MLB reinstatement in 2023. The Atlantic League, known for its developmental role, has previously featured players like Dontrelle Willis and Daniel Murphy. Bauer’s performance with the Ducks could influence any future MLB opportunities.