Trevor Bauer signs with Long Island Ducks, marking return to US baseball

Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News on Apr 2, 2026

Published in Baseball

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NEW YORK — Trevor Bauer, who has not pitched for an MLB team since serving a 194-game suspension related to sexual assault allegations, has signed with the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League.

Bauer, 35, is set to be the Ducks’ opening-night starter on April 21 at Fairfield Properties Ballpark in Central Islip, the team announced Thursday.

“His talent and knowledge will be important additions to our ballclub, and we are happy to offer him this opportunity to showcase his talents to MLB clubs,” Ducks President/CBO Michael Pfaff said in a statement.

Bauer, the 2020 National League Cy Young Award winner as a member of the Cincinnati Reds, has not appeared in an MLB game since 2021 with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred initially suspended Bauer for 324 games — or two full seasons — after a woman accused the pitcher of beating and sexually abusing her in 2021.

Bauer denied the allegations and has maintained his innocence. He was never charged with a crime, and civil claims have been settled.

He was reinstated to MLB by an independent arbitrator in December 2022, reducing his suspension to 194 games.

The Dodgers released Bauer the following month, and the right-hander has since pitched professionally in Japan and Mexico.

Signing with the Ducks marks a return to U.S. baseball for Bauer, who is 83-69 with a 3.79 ERA over 10 MLB seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Cleveland, the Reds and the Dodgers.

Bauer plans to wear a microphone at Ducks games and practices, with the content set to air on his and the team’s social media pages. Pfaff said Bauer will give fans “unprecedented access to Ducks baseball.”

“I’m looking forward to competing in front of U.S. fans again this season,” Bauer said. “The Ducks have had some incredible players come through their organization, and I’m excited to be part of that tradition.”