Trevor Bauer, the 2020 National League Cy Young Award winner, continues to make his case on the mound in the Atlantic League, earning Pitcher of the Month honors for April-May 2026 with the Long Island Ducks.
The 35-year-old right-hander delivered standout performances, including the third no-hitter in Ducks franchise history and a franchise-record 15-strikeout outing, all while posting elite numbers that would turn heads at any level. Yet, as he excels in independent ball, the larger question lingers: Why does a proven Major League talent remain unsigned by any MLB club?
Bauer went 4-1 with a 2.43 ERA and a league-leading 0.97 WHIP across six starts, striking out 56 batters against just seven walks in 37 innings. He ranks second in the Atlantic League in ERA and strikeouts while tying for third in wins. He missed the final two weeks of May due to injury but still produced dominant results.
Trevor Bauer (トレバー・バウアー) on X (formerly Twitter): “And I’ll play for $0 at any level of the organization so…why am I still not allowed to go back to work? https://t.co/uixgJzt7zs / X”
And I’ll play for $0 at any level of the organization so…why am I still not allowed to go back to work? https://t.co/uixgJzt7zs
On April 26, Bauer threw a seven-inning no-hitter against the Lancaster Stormers in a 1-0 victory, facing just one batter over the minimum with one walk and seven strikeouts. Then, on May 12, he set the Ducks’ single-game strikeout record with 15 in a 6-3 win over Gastonia, throwing 117 pitches. He has recorded 10 or more strikeouts in two starts this season and fanned seven or more in all six.
A 10-year MLB veteran, Bauer signed with the Ducks in early April after pitching in Japan and Mexico in recent years. His Atlantic League dominance underscores the talent that once made him one of the game’s most effective pitchers. Behind his arm, the Ducks have remained competitive in the early season standings.
Bauer’s agent, Rachel Luba, has been vocal about the disparity: while 17 pitchers from the Atlantic League have earned MLB deals this year, her client — cleared of criminal charges — remains on the outside looking in.
Bauer’s path back to the majors has been blocked since 2021 sexual assault allegations surfaced during his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers. MLB suspended him for 324 games (later reduced to 194) under its domestic violence and sexual assault policy, despite no criminal charges ever being filed. The Dodgers released him upon reinstatement in 2023, and he has received no big-league offers since.
Bauer has consistently maintained his innocence. One accuser, Lindsey Hill, settled a civil lawsuit with him; she was later ordered to pay him more than $300,000 for breaching settlement terms by discussing the case publicly. Another accuser has faced felony charges related to fraud and extortion.
Despite publicly offering to pitch for any MLB team at minimal or no cost, with flexible contract terms, Bauer has found no takers. At 35, he continues to plead for an opportunity at any level, relying on performance to speak where opportunities have not materialized.
For Bauer, the monthly award represents validation of his work in a league known for developing and showcasing talent. Whether it leads to the MLB return he seeks remains to be seen. For now, the former Cy Young winner keeps proving he can still dominate hitters.
