Major League Baseball on Friday suspended Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer for two seasons, discovering that he violated the league’s policy in opposition to domestic violence.
In one of the vital important suspensions ever handed down in opposition to an lively participant, Bauer will probably be banned from play for 324 video games following an “extensive investigation” by MLB, Commissioner Rob Manfred introduced.
The suspension is “without pay, effective today, for violating Major League Baseball’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy,” in line with a league assertion.
“In accordance with the terms of the Policy, the Commissioner’s Office will not issue any further statements at this point in time,” MLB added.
Bauer can be eligible to play once more in late April 2024.
He shortly issued his personal assertion on Friday, saying he’ll battle the suspension and once more denied any wrongdoing.
“In the strongest possible terms, I deny committing any violation of the league’s domestic violence & sexual assault policy,” the pitcher mentioned. (*2*)
The Dodgers acknowledged the motion by MLB and mentioned they do “not condone or excuse any acts of domestic violence or sexual assault.”
Bauer has been sidelined for the reason that finish of June final 12 months and this two-year suspension quantities to one the strongest penalties ever enforced by MLB.
It’s the longest suspension MLB has handed down for the reason that league and union agreed to insurance policies on sexual assault and domestic violence in 2015.
Other notable MLB suspensions embody gamers from the “Black Sox” scandal and Alex Rodriguez.
Eight members of the 1919 Chicago White Sox, accused of throwing World Series video games, had been completely banned from the game by Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis, baseball’s first commissioner.
And New York Yankees slugger Rodriguez was taken off the subject for all of 2014 for repeated use of performance-enhancing medication.
The punishment in opposition to Bauer comes regardless of him avoiding felony legal responsibility.
Earlier this 12 months, L.A. County prosecutors introduced they won’t pursue fees in opposition to Bauer after a San Diego lady accused him of sexual assault throughout sexual encounters at his dwelling in Pasadena.
The 31-year-old right-hander, who grew up in Southern California and attended UCLA, signed a three-year, $102 million cope with the hometown Dodgers final February.
Bauer’s signing got here with some off-the-field danger, as Bauer has been accused of bullying ladies on-line.
In the primary two months of the 2021 season, Bauer went 6-2 with an ERA of 2.24.
If the suspension to April 2024 holds, Bauer could possibly be denied greater than $60 million. He had nonetheless been getting paid earlier than the MLB ruling on Friday.
Diana Dasrath contributed.