Trevor Bauer is Dominating Minor League, Hoping for Another MLB Shot
Trevor Bauer returned to North America for the first time in several years this season, in yet another attempt to try to get himself another look-see in the major leagues.
Bauer signed with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League, which is known as a high-level independent "partner league" of Major League Baseball. And the former LA Dodgers, Cleveland Indians (now Guardians) and Cincinnati Reds ace and Cy Young winner is absolutely dominating the independent league batters.
In three starts, Bauer, now 35, has a 1.59 ERA with a 25:4 strikeout to walk ratio in 17 innings, along with a 0.88 WHIP.
But as much as he can make these borderline minor league hitters look silly, so do his chances of another crack at the big leagues. Whatever you think of him, he carries a ton of baggage from his past, and he continues to bring controversy.
He recently posted a video complaining that "a pitch clock violation" spoiled his attempted perfect game with the Ducks.
The Pitch Clock Stole My Perfect Game pic.twitter.com/YtbHjiNYCZ
— Trevor Bauer (トレバー・バウアー) (@BauerOutage) May 6, 2026
Bauer has been blackballed from Major League Baseball after being accused of sexual assault midway through the 2021 season. After a lengthy investigation by the league, he was suspended in 2022 for "violating MLB’s joint domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy."
Bauer has claimed his innocence throughout the entire process, and he has never faced criminal charges.
Bauer won the 2020 NL Cy Young award with the Cincinnati Reds, then signed a three-year, $102 million free agent contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. But LA cut him in early 2023 after he finished serving a 192-game suspension.
No matter how much he blows batters away in the Atlantic League, no one is expecting an MLB team to come calling.
