It’s all about second chances when Trevor Bauer tugs on a Long Island Ducks jersey on opening night.
After years of playing in Mexico and Japan, the polarizing “outcast” 2020 Cy Young winner returns to the mound in America for the first time since his bombshell 194-game MLB suspension in 2022 over sexual assault allegations, which the former Dodger has vehemently denied and was never criminally charged for.
“I don’t really think about image rehabilitation, because I think I have a fine image with the fans, baseball players, coaches, front offices, all that stuff,” he told reporters Saturday.
“My image is what it is. I don’t control my image.”
The highly anticipated outing will be Tuesday when the independent Atlantic League Professional Baseball team opens at home against the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars — and fan response has been “outstanding,” according to Ducks president Michael Pfaff.
“We had a huge increase in ticket sales for opening night,” Pfaff said. “There were a few thousand tickets purchased around his start.”
While a member of the Dodgers, Bauer was accused in 2021 of punching and choking a woman during sex, which he previously said was “wholly consensual.”
He was initially given a 324-game suspension by MLB in April 2022, which was reduced after an appeal.
“I felt like I’m kind of an outcast for a while now,” Bauer admitted.
The 35-year-old added that he’s “communicated with all 30 teams” in Major League Baseball, but “there are things that are completely out of my control” regarding a prospective return.
“There’s no question about talent or effectiveness if I were to come back,” said Bauer, who added, “I think I’m a better pitcher in a lot of ways now than I was.”
Pfaff is hopeful that playing for the Ducks — a team that previously signed divisive pitcher John Rocker, among other star-caliber talents like Daniel Murphy — will be a pivotal step in Bauer’s redemption arc.
“This league has existed for 28 years to give players like Trevor the showcase that they deserve to get back to Major League Baseball or to get better opportunities in the game,” Pfaff said.
Crowds roared for the righty during a Saturday fan fest with spectators wearing Bauer jerseys from the Dodgers and his international teams.
“Even just seeing people standing outside of the clubhouse before games start in spring training” has brought joy to the now stateside pitcher, who is eager to play in front of friends and family.
“I feel like he was kind of wronged,” said Erik Stanton, the dad of an adult daughter who was hoping to get Bauer’s autograph at Fairfield Properties Ballpark ahead of the spring training game. “I feel like some guys have done worse.”
Still, fan Cheryl Geller isn’t thrilled and said, “I look at him a little differently,” after her husband, Bruce, recently explained Bauer’s past to her.
California’s Joe and Stacy Green, a married pair on vacation in New York City, made an impromptu drive out to Islip after hearing Bauer would be showing his face. He had mentored their son, Max Green, a former ALPB pitcher for the Lancaster Barnstormers.
Bauer remembered Max while briefly chatting with his parents near a bullpen entourage of supporters.
Stacy described Bauer as a “good guy,” and Joe said, “he’s been treated wildly unfairly.”
Lindenhurst grandpa Vinny Moran added, “Hopefully he can get back in the major leagues.”
“He got railroaded out,” said Moran, who brought his daughter and two granddaughters to the ballpark Saturday and gladly would bring them back to see him play.
Bauer said he signed with the Ducks at the last minute, only to realize its new owner is a Texas Rangers-adjacent company, Rev Entertainment. He chalked up the connection to nothing more than “a cool fact.”
The focus for Bauer isn’t on any benchmark stats, but rather “to help guys” on the roster.
“I want to be good in the clubhouse with teammates,” he said.
Bauer will also be filming a “Hard Knocks”-style day-in-the-life YouTube vlog throughout the season that will offer a behind-the-scenes peek at his day-to-day.
“I’ll be mic’d up for all the games,” he said, “so you’ll kind of get a really unique insight into what I’m thinking on the mound — and what I’m thinking afterwards.”
His presence hasn’t been a distraction to the team but instead a major motivator, manager Lew Ford said.
“It’s early, but I think the guys, we could feel there’s an energy,” Ford said. “We’re going to have some fun this year — and we’re going to win some baseball games.”
Ducks 26-year-old outfielder Matt Hogan is stoked to get to know his new teammate.
“What can’t you learn from a guy like that? That’s a guy who’s been through it,” said the former White Sox minor leaguer from Plainview. “He knows pretty much everything you could possibly know about baseball. … I’ve had the chance to talk to him briefly so far, and he’s just a tremendous guy. He’s really nice. I look forward to getting to know him better.”
Bauer said he has no intentions of staying in the shadows, either.
“I’d love to get out into Long Island and see some baseball around the community that’s not here at the stadium, and just interact with fans,” he said.
“I feel a lot of happiness.”
