“As a fan, I wanted to enjoy it…”
Trevor Bauer of the Yokohama DeNA Basestars told the story of how he was kicked out of the Kyocera Dome on the 18th (KST), according to Japan’s ‘Sportichi Annex’.
Bauer, who won the National League Cy Young Award as a member of the Cincinnati Reds in 2020, turned to Asia when he realized he could no longer play in the major leagues due to personal issues. He signed a one-year, $3 million (approximately 3.8 billion won) contract with the Yokohama DeNA prior to this season to play professional baseball in Japan.
Bauer did not start the season on track due to shoulder discomfort. However, on May 3, he made his debut against the Hiroshima Toyo Kappa, earning his first win after a long hiatus by allowing one run (one earned) on seven hits (one home run) with one walk and nine strikeouts over seven innings.
The pitching and results of his first start were his best. But his next two starts were a nightmare. Bauer struggled against the Yomiuri Giants on May 9, giving up 11 hits (three homers) and seven runs (six earned) in six innings, and then again against Hiroshima on May 16, giving up eight hits (one homer) and seven runs (seven earned) in just two innings. After two consecutive disappointing outings, Bauer was sent to the second team.먹튀검증
Bauer’s second stint in the minors made a difference. In his first start back from the second team, Bauer showed improvement with a six-inning, two-run quality start against the Junichi Dragons, and then rebounded with an eight-inning, two-run start against the Seibu Lions and Oryx Buffaloes.
The most impressive pitch came on April 14. Bauer started a doubleheader against the Nippon Ham Fighters and went nine innings, throwing 103 pitches, giving up three hits (one home run), striking out 12, walking one and allowing one run (one earned) to improve to 4-2 on the season, his first “complete game” in Nippon Professional Baseball. Yokohama gave Bauer a “day off” immediately following the complete game, given the break after the exchange and the fact that his first opponent in the league was the first-place Hanshin Tigers.
According to multiple Japanese media outlets, Bauer watched his team, the Yokohama DeNA, play the Oryx Buffaloes at Kyocera Dome on April 11 from the stands instead of the dugout. Bauer had purchased his own 4,000 yen (about $36,000) ticket to the outfield on the left field side.
But here’s the catch. Bauer’s face was well known to Japanese fans from his time in the major leagues, and they recognized him. One by one, fans began to surround Bauer, preventing him from watching the game. Eventually, Bauer was removed from the stands at the Kyocera Dome by club security. It was a hilarious act that lived up to the nickname of “freak.
According to Sponichi Annex, Bauer said, “I stand out, so it’s inevitable that a lot of people would gather. I couldn’t watch the game because I was a nuisance to other fans. I wanted to wave flags and cheer with the Yokohama DeNA fans and enjoy the game as a fan.”
Meanwhile, Bauer has recently been embroiled in new sexual assault allegations. However, Yokohama DeNA have stated that they have no issues with the contract, stating that they were already aware of the allegations when he joined the club. Bauer, who is currently suspended from the first team, is expected to return to the first team for the first three games against Hanshin once the exchange is over and the league begins.