YOKOHAMA, Japan — After cheerleaders welcomed him, after receiving the most important ovation of any Yokohama participant firstly of the sport, Trevor Bauer delivered what was anticipated on Wednesday in his debut with the Yokohama DeNA Baystars.
Bauer pitched his first official recreation in simply over 22 months after the Los Angeles Dodgers launched him earlier this 12 months following claims of sexual assault and home violence.
Bauer, scattered seven hits in seven innings, allowed one run, struck out 9 and threw 98 pitches in a 4-1 victory towards the Hiroshima Carp earlier than 33,202, which the group mentioned was a file.
The spotlight may need been Bauer’s batting.
Pitchers nonetheless bat in Japan’s Central League, the place the DH isn’t used. Bauer grounded out as soon as and put down an ideal sacrifice bunt within the fifth, which led to Yokohama’s go-ahead run. He additionally struck out.
The solely blemish was a a bases-empty residence run within the second to fellow American Matt Davidson, who performed with Bauer with the Cincinnati Reds in 2020.
PHOTOS: Trevor Bauer picks up 4-1 victory in debut with Yokohama
“My ex-teammate got me,” Bauer mentioned. “I don’t know how far it went. I talked to him before his next at-bat and I said: ‘Why do you have to do that to me?’”
Bauer’s first recreation has been lengthy awaited in Yokohama, which has not received the Japanese season championship since 1998. Bauer is anticipated to ship with the group now main the Central League.
Osaka membership Orix leads the Pacific League.
“I felt great,” Bauer mentioned. “I just felt normal, the body felt good: command, velocity, results. All good. It was a great day.”
He even tried a number of phrases of Japanese, addressing the followers after the sport. Roughly translated he mentioned: “I win in Yokohama.”
Fans applauded and understood instantly. He mentioned teammates had been educating him.
“I have to make sure they’re not telling me to say something wrong,” he mentioned.
Bauer was requested by Japanese reporters what he was desirous about simply earlier than the sport. His reply steered he was feeling some strain.
“My nose started bleeding,” he mentioned. “That’s what was on my mind coming to the field.”
Yokohama signed Bauer for a reported $4 million, and he additionally will get tens of millions extra in termination pay from the Dodgers.
Billboards throughout city introduced his arrival, together with a seven-story poster that went up Wednesday on the aspect of a Yokohama division retailer.
Bauer arrives with a baseball pedigree because the 2020 Cy Young Award winner, and in addition claims of sexual assault and home violence which have saved him out of enjoying within the majors for nearly two years.
Bauer was launched by the Los Angeles Dodgers this 12 months after an arbitrator diminished his 324-game suspension to 194 video games for violating the home violence and sexual assault coverage of MLB and the gamers’ affiliation.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred suspended Bauer in April of final 12 months after a San Diego girl mentioned he beat and sexually abused her in 2021. Bauer disputed her claims and mentioned the whole lot that occurred between them was consensual.
He was by no means charged with a criminal offense and a California decide discovered the lady’s claims “materially misleading.”
Bauer might have joined any MLB group for this season, however no groups wished him – or in the event that they did, they didn’t signal him.
Bauer, as he has earlier than, lauded the environment at Japanese stadiums, the place there’s a fixed din of chants, songs and drums beating with followers at all times collaborating.
“The atmosphere in the U.S. doesn’t compare to here at all,” Bauer mentioned. “The only time it comes anywhere close is sometimes in playoff baseball. I played in a World Series in 2016 and the Cleveland stadium was very loud. But the sustained energy here is just so much different.”
His debut got here after three appearances with Yokohama’s farm golf equipment, the place he had 17 strikeouts in 16 innings with a 2.25 ERA.
Japanese followers have welcomed him, ladies haven’t organized to protest his presence, and he’s being given the advantage of the doubt For his half, he’s speaking up each facet of enjoying in Japan.
“I just want to win,” Bauer mentioned. “I want to contribute to that. I want to pitch well. I want to entertain the fans.”
Yokohama fan Shohei Horikawa stood inside Yokohama’s stadium and summed up what many Japanese really feel.
“I know he had some issues in the past, but he was not convicted,” Horikawa mentioned, sporting a Bauer No. 96 jersey. “I want him to reset himself in Japan without any prejudice and to do his best.”
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