Trevor Bauer, 32, a former Cy Young Award winner in the major leagues, was pulled from the game early. It’s a shame, as he had already been in good form this season, winning 10 games.
Bauer pitched in the third inning of a Nippon Professional Baseball 2023 away game against the Hanshin Tigers at Hanshin Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, on March 30, and abruptly ended his outing. According to local Japanese media, Bauer suffered an unexpected injury while fielding.
Bauer got off to a clean start, inducing a triple play in the top of the first inning by inducing both Hanshin batters to fly out to center field. However, Bauer was hit by a leadoff single in the second inning. With the bases loaded, Sheldon Noyce, who played for the Oakland Athletics until last year, stepped up to the plate. With a 2-0 count, Noyce took advantage of a three-pitch fastball from Bauer and smashed a solo shot over the left-center field fence.
And in the bottom of the third, with the team still down 0-1. Runners on first and second. Koji Chakamoto’s pitch against Bauer rolled slowly between Bauer and the third baseman. Bauer lunged for it and made a knee-sliding catch. He then twisted and threw to first base, but fell backwards. The runners advanced to second and third. But he got the next two batters to fly out to left field and strike out swinging to end the inning. And in the bottom of the fourth. The pitcher on the mound was not Bauer, but Kamichatani Taiga.
Japanese media outlets immediately jumped on the news of Bauer’s early demotion. Nikkan Sports reported, “Bauer was ejected in the third inning. After making a sliding catch, he jumped up and threw the ball to first base, but it became a bad throw. His body was impacted in the process.” Another media outlet, Sporunichi Annex, reported that “Bauer left the mound after just three innings. It was his shortest outing since May 16 against Hiroshima (seven runs in two innings).” Another outlet, Full Count, wondered if Bauer was injured while delivering a pitch from a difficult position: “A trainer rushed over to check on him, but he resumed pitching without a replacement. However, in the fourth inning, Bauer was removed and Kamichatani took the mound.”
Despite the unexpected circumstances that led to his early demotion, Bauer has been performing well in Japan. This season, Bauer has started 19 games, posting a 10-4 record with a 2.76 ERA. He also has two complete games. In 130⅔ innings, he has allowed 119 hits (14 home runs), 130 walks, 31 strikeouts, 44 runs (44 earned), and a .243 batting average. In May, he went 1-2 with a 6.86 ERA and seemed to struggle to adjust to the Japanese scene, but he settled down after going 4-0 with a 2.08 ERA in June, and finally cemented his place in the lineup with his 10th win of the season against Junichi on May 25. The fans in Yokohama are cheering him on, saying that he is “the best pitcher in the world.” With this kind of performance, a return to the major leagues next season is not out of the question.토스카지노
Since making his major league debut in 2011, Bauer has appeared in 222 career games, compiling a record of 83-69 with a 3.79 ERA. In 2020, a shortened season, he had a breakout year, going 5-4 with a 1.73 ERA and winning the National League Cy Young Award. He signed a three-year, $120 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers ahead of the 2021 season, but was suspended in late June of that year after being accused of assault. Although he escaped legal consequences, with prosecutors deciding not to press charges due to insufficient evidence, the Dodgers eventually released Bauer without conditions in January. He has since joined Yokohama, where he has been performing well.
Bauer was also embroiled in a racial slur controversy in March 2021 when he pointed his right index finger at his right eye after striking out Kim Ha-seong during an exhibition game against San Diego. At the time, Bauer told local media, “I threw with my eyes closed to test myself. I like to make myself uncomfortable and then find a solution,” he explained. “Fox Sports San Diego hastily deleted the post, suggesting it was an intentionally racist gesture,” wrote Blake Harris, a reporter for True Blue, an outlet that covers the Los Angeles Dodgers, on social media.