In a recent Fox News interview, former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer discussed his past and hopefully – in his mind – future in Major League Baseball. Bauer, who was given the harshest suspension in league history after explosive allegations of sexual assault surfaced in 2021, professed his innocence, claimed he has matured in his lifestyle decisions, and expressed hope that he could one day return to an MLB mound.
In a hard-hitting interview with Fox News anchor Bill Hemmer, Bauer was asked about the sexual assault allegations that resulted in his ouster from baseball.
A San Diego woman had claimed that she met Bauer in April of 2021 and that she had been physically and sexually assaulted by him on two separate occasions. Bauer acknowledged that he did have a sexual relationship with her, but that it was mutually consensual.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office elected not to file criminal charges, citing a lack of evidence.
Bauer reiterated claims to Hemmer that his relationship with the woman was consensual.
“I’ve never sexually assaulted anyone,” he said. “Never will, never have. That’s not who I am as a person.”
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Trevor Bauer Wants Back Into Major League Baseball
Bauer also admitted in the Fox News interview that he had made numerous poor lifestyle choices over the years and indicated he’s grown out of that stage.
“I know I’ve made mistakes. That’s kinda what I’m trying to focus on,” he said. “How do I get better from the experiences that I’ve had. I’ve made mistakes in my personal life. I’m really detail-oriented when it comes to baseball and my training, but I didn’t apply the same level of scrutiny to my personal life.”
“I made mistakes. I agreed to do things I shouldn’t have done. I was reckless. It hurt a lot of people along the way,” the Cy Young award winner continued. “I made things very difficult for Major League Baseball, for the Dodgers, my teammates, my friends, family, people close to me.”
Trevor Bauer insists that he’s made lifestyle changes to avoid future personal issues in his life. And, he wants back into the big leagues.
Will He Get A Second Chance? Experts Weigh In
Above all else, Bauer, who last pitched in Japan for the Yokohama DeNA Bay Stars in 2023, expressed his hope of being given a second chance to appear in Major League Baseball.
“I’d love to play baseball. That’s my goal — to play baseball here in the United States. Still one of the best pitchers in the world. I’d like to compete at the highest level. I’m also really passionate about helping people, being good for the game,” Bauer professed.
“I think I’ve done a lot of damage, unfortunately, in the first half of my career, and I’d love a second opportunity to do things better,” he said.
Will he get that second chance?
“I am not sure, to be honest,” said Tug Cowart, sports personality for 680 The Fan in Atlanta. “I don’t agree with his lifestyle but it’s his lifestyle, not mine.”
Cowart added: “It’ll be interesting to see who has the nerve to offer him an opportunity because it’ll be a media circus.”
According to a New York Post report, Bauer and his agents met with multiple teams at the annual GM Meetings in November.
Tom Goslowski, radio host at Fox Sports 980 in Albany tells Bounding Into Sports, that Bauer is a “fantastic player” and believes his MLB punishments were “far more about how he was vocal against (MLB Commissioner Rob) Manfred and former coaches/teammates than the off-the-field issue.”
In 2020, before the sexual assault allegations surfaced, Bauer called Manfred a “joke” who has “absolutely no clue about baseball.”
Both comments were objectively true at the time and remain true to this day.
Yet, to Goslowski’s point, he had a well-documented history of clashing with his own teammates, had a bad reputation among people he competed alongside, and admitted to being “good at two things in this world … throwing baseballs and pissing people off.”
Major League teams can’t deny the former. He’s still pitching at a very high level. But can they overlook the latter? Can they overlook the baggage that comes along with adding Trevor Bauer to your lineup?
Bauer released text messages and a video in early October which he believed exonerated him from the most salacious of accusations by the woman from San Diego.
“Next victim. Star pitcher for the Dodgers,” one message to her friend read, giving the appearance she had targeted the Dodger ace.
Bauer has adamantly denied the allegations against him throughout the entire process and the two settled dual lawsuits recently without money being exchanged.
