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Trevor Bauer smacked around in Long Island Ducks debut
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- Trevor Bauer smacked around in Long Island Ducks debut
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Trevor Bauer has made his Atlantic League debut. Bauer recently signed with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League, returning to pitching in the United States for the first time since his release from the Los Angeles Dodgers .
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Fans packed Fairfield Properties Ballpark in Central Islip, New York, to see the debut, but Bauer was not at his best .
He was pulled after four innings, giving up five hits and three walks. This would also lead to two earned runs against Bauer. He did have eight strikeouts, but also did not have the best command. Of his 91 pitches, 34 of them were balls. Meanwhile, his fastball was not at its best either, with many of them being in the low 90's in terms of speed.
Bauer was once one of the top pitchers in MLB. He won the Cy Young in 2020 and was dominant as a member of the Cleveland Indians (now Cleveland Guardians) early in his career. He would then spend time with the Cincinnati Reds , winning his Cy Young in his second season with the team. Heading into 2021, he was a free agent and signed a three-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
He was 8-5 with a 2.59 ERA in 17 starts, and leading the majors in strikeouts, when the pitcher was placed on administrative leave due to sexual assault allegations. He would never pitch in the majors again. Since then, Bauer has had stints in Japan with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars and in Mexico with the Diablos Rojos del Mexico. While it was not a perfect debut, Bauer was excited to be out on the mound, according to Howie Kussoy of The New York Post.
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"I just want to be around American fans and enjoy playing baseball in my home country because I've not been allowed to play baseball in my home country for years for no good reason," Bauer said. "So instead of getting bitter about it, I want to come and enjoy the fans that are here and feel like I am accepted in American baseball."
Bauer still hopes to return to the majors, but until then, he will pitch for the Ducks. The date for his second start has yet to be announced.
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