Trevor Bauer highlights love for baseball and unique atmosphere for move to Nippon Professional League
Cy Young Award-winning pitcher Trevor Bauer has decided to to take his talents to Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). The decision to sign a one-year, $4 million contract with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars came as a shock to many people.
Bauer last played for the Los Angeles Dodgers in June 2021. The league suspended him at the time due to a series of accusations against him. The former All-Star is now looking to Japan to revive his baseball career. At 32 years old, he still has a great deal to offer the game.
In a recent video on YouTube, Bauer explained his reasons for choosing NPB over other leagues. He said:
"I want to help people fall in love with baseball the way I have."
Bauer had previously hinted at his desire to play in the Far East after visiting Japan in 2009 as a young man with Team USA.
He believes Japan has a unique baseball culture and went on to highlight the memorable experience of playing in front of 55,000 fans at the Tokyo Dome:
"That was the moment I added 'play professional baseball in Japan' to my bucket list."
Bauer was hit with a record 324-game suspension but was reinstated to the league after the appeals process.
After the Dodgers cut ties with Bauer, any MLB team could have signed him to a league minimum salary of $720,000. MLB teams have been reluctant to take a chance on the powerful righty. Bauer, however, will earn a lot more with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars
Trevor Bauer won the National League Cy Young Award in 2020
Trevor Bauer has an impressive resume. He has played for four different MLB organizations, including the Arizona Diamondbacks, Cleveland Guardians and Cincinnati Reds. Over a 10-year career, he has a 83-69 record and a 3.79 ERA.
Trevor Bauer expresses his excitement to play in Japan https://t.co/P4pxvhCBps
"Trevor Bauer expresses his excitement to play in Japan" - Talkin' Baseball
Bauer was selected to his first All-Star Game in 2018. In 2020, he went on to win the Cy Young Award and finished with an impressive 1.73 ERA. He recorded 100 strikeouts in just 73 innings that season.
A change of scenery may help Bauer rebound after a tough few years. Japan is fanatical about their baseball and he could thrive in a new environment.