Trevor Bauer Reacts to Facing Dodgers in Back-field Game
Some of the Dodgers minor-league players got to face a former pitcher of the organization today at the Camelback Ranch backfields. Former Los Angeles starter Trevor Bauer took the mound for the Asian Breeze, an independent travel team that helps players get noticed by scouts by playing against minor leaguers from MLB squads.
Bauer got his chance to perform against his former team and he showed out. The right-hander went three innings allowing zero runs and striking out four batters.
After his performance, Bauer tried to downplay that this was a showcase for his return to the big leagues.
"Bauer said he was “just in joking-around, have-a-good-time mode – I wasn’t super competitive” facing a Dodgers team that included three players from the 40-man roster (Hunter Feduccia, Andy Pages and Diego Cartaya) as well as their second-round pick from last year’s draft (Jake Gelof)."
The right-hander has been fairly adamant that he deserves another chance to pitch in the majors after he served his suspension for violating the league’s domestic violence and sexual assault policy.
“I mean if you think about it, I should have the opportunity to sign with a big-league team,” Bauer said Sunday. “I’m just asking for the league minimum, so it’s not a money thing. I’ve served my suspension twice over. I’ve been cleared of everything in the legal system. If you think about it logically, there’s really no reason I shouldn’t have a job. But I don’t. So it is what it is. We’ll see how it plays out. I don’t want to predict the future. We’ll see.”
Even warming up drew a lot of attention from Bauer. He may be out of the league but still draws in a crowd.
“I’m a better pitcher than I was the last time people here saw me. Hopefully today reminded them that I’m still an elite pitcher. If not, that’s fine too.”
It remains to be seen if Bauer will be given another chance, but he did impress in his showing today.
