Trevor Bauer, the star Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher accused last year of punching and choking a woman during sex, has been suspended for two season despite not being criminally charged.
The suspension, handed down by Major League Baseball for violating the league’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy, will cost the 2020 National League Cy Young award winner $70 million.
“Today we were informed that MLB has concluded its investigation into allegations that have been made against Trevor Bauer and the Commissioner has issued his decision regarding discipline,” the Dodgers said in a statement. “The Dodgers organization takes all allegations of this nature very seriously and does not condone or excuse any acts of domestic violence or sexual assault.”
Bauer was placed on administrative leave by MLB in July 2021, a month after a woman accused him of sexual assault and obtained a restraining order against him. Gruesome photos of her emerged, showing bruising from what Bauer insisted was a consensual encounter. Bauer did not appear in a game for the remainder of the 2021 season and has yet to pitch in the 2022 MLB season.
The woman accused Bauer of assaulting her on two separate occasions. According to The Athletic, the woman alleged that Bauer punched her in the face, vagina, and buttocks, and choked her until she was unconscious multiple times. But in August, the accuser was denied the restraining order following a four-day court battle.
“In this case, the court finds there is no supporting evidence that Bauer would cause any harm or even have contact with her,” Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Dianna Gould-Saltman said.
In February, the Los Angeles County District attorney’s office announced that Bauer would not face criminal charges stemming from the sexual assault allegations.
“After a thorough review of all the available evidence including the civil restraining order proceedings, witness statements and the physical evidence — the People are unable to prove the relevant charges beyond a reasonable doubt,” the district attorney’s office said. “Those charges were assault by means likely to cause great bodily harm, sodomy of a sleeping person and domestic violence.”
Following the announcement of the suspension on Friday, Bauer, who is now suing his accuser, tweeted that he would be appealing the commissioner’s decision.
“In the strongest possible terms, I deny committing any violation of the league’s domestic violence & sexual assault policy,” Bauer posted to Twitter. “I am appealing this action and expect to prevail. As we have throughout this process, my representatives & I respect the confidentiality of the proceedings.”
Joe Morgan is the Sports Reporter for The Daily Wire. Most recently, Morgan covered the Clippers, Lakers, and the NBA for Sporting News. Send your sports questions to [email protected].