Controversial Ex-MLB Pitcher Trevor Bauer Signs With Indy Ball Team

Controversial former Major League Baseball pitcher Trevor Bauer is back pitching in the United States, but not in the big leagues.

Bauer hasn't pitched in a big league game since 2021 as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Bauer received a 324-game suspension from Major League Baseball. It was the biggest punishment in league history based on the league's domestic violence policy, per Alden Gonzalez of ESPN. Bauer appealed the suspension. The suspension was reduced to 194 games.

Bauer has not pitched in a big league game since.

On Thursday, the Long Island Ducks, an independent baseball team in the North Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, announced on X that Bauer will be joining their team and will pitch on their Opening Day on April 21.

The former MLB All-Star is joining an Indy Ball team

Jun 23, 2021; San Diego, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Trevor Bauer (27) throws a pitch against the San Diego Padres during the fourth inning at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-Imagn Images | Orlando Ramirez-Imagn Images

"The Long Island Ducks today announced the signing of Cy Young Award winning pitcher Trevor Bauer" the team announced. "He begins his first season with the Ducks, 15th in professional baseball and is currently projected to serve as the club’s opening night starter on April 21 at Fairfield Properties Ballpark. Additionally, Bauer will be 'Mic’d Up' for all games and practices for the purposes of content creation to be featured on his and the team’s social media and streaming outlets."

Since his last game in Major League Baseball, Bauer has pitched in Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan with the Yokohama Bay Stars and in the Mexican League with Diablos Rojos del Mexico. In 2025, Bauer made 22 starts with Yokohama and had a 4.41 ERA. In comparison, the team ERA for the Bay Stars in 2025 was 2.94, which was second-best in the Japan Central League. The Hanshin Tigers led the league with a 2.21 team ERA. The Yakult Swallows had the worst team ERA in the Japan Central League at 3.59.

There was a time when Bauer was an elite pitcher in Major League Baseball. He was a one-time All-Star and one-time Cy Young Award winner. But those days are long gone. He has been a polarizing figure across the league for some time now. He went abroad and pitched. Now he's coming back to the United States to pitch, but will be in an independent league over in New York. It shouldn't be a big story around the big leagues, especially because Bauer hasn't pitched in an MLB game since 2021, and yet there are still some out there following his moves closely.