Trevor Bauer suspension: MLB drops the hammer on Dodgers pitcher
By Mark Powell
Major League Baseball (MLB) has suspended Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer for two years after an investigation into sexual assault allegations.
Note: This story contains graphic accounts of domestic violence, threats and sexual assault. If you or someone you know is a survivor of sexual assault or domestic violence, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 or the Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.
The total number of games Bauer will be suspended for is 324. Bauer will appeal the suspension, making it clear he did not agree with the MLB-MLBPA settlement as to the number of games he will be forced to miss.
Bauer’s suspension is the longest ever handed out by MLB under the league’s domestic violence and sexual assault policy.
Los Angeles Dodgers starter Trevor Bauer has received a two-year suspension from Major League Baseball.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) April 29, 2022
Trevor Bauer says he is appealing his two-year suspension from MLB for violating its domestic violence policy.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) April 29, 2022
In every previous case in which a player was suspended under the policy, it was an agreed-upon number of games.
Bauer clearly did not agree and there is no settlement. https://t.co/Z3eHD4Iy6V
Trevor Bauer suspension: Dodgers pitcher will appeal
The Dodgers pitcher faces several allegations for sexual assault — one which went to civil court and another from a woman in Ohio.
Bauer claims that both of the incidents were fully consensual, and he was not charged criminally despite investigations by police. Prior to Friday afternoon, he had been placed on administrative leave
Bauer’s suspension will start this season and go all the way into the 2024 campaign, per Jeff Passan.
What did Trevor Bauer do?
Bauer was investigated for a possible sexual assault in California. The encounters were allegedly consensual, but the woman went unconscious and woke up with horrifying injuries. The following is per The Athletic:
"“According to the woman’s declaration attached to the request and obtained by The Athletic, she suffered injuries as a result of the second encounter, including two black eyes, a bloodied swollen lip, significant bruising and scratching to one side of her face. In the woman’s declaration, signed under penalty of perjury of California state laws, she said that her medical notes state that she had ‘significant head and facial trauma’ and that there were signs of basilar skull fracture.”"
Police looked into the incident but ultimately did not charge Bauer.
A separate protection order was filed against Bauer in Ohio.
While Bauer was playing in Cleveland and then Cincinnati, he allegedly choked and punched her during a sexual encounter. Bauer claims the woman assaulted him.
In 2020, said woman filed an order of protection against Bauer for a threatening text messaging she claimed was from the pitcher which stated, “I don’t feel like spending time in jail for killing someone. And that’s what would happen if I saw you again.”
No criminal charges were pursued by police.
MLB made a statement with their suspension of Bauer. This sort of activity off the diamond will not be tolerated moving forward.