The incidents for which he is currently under investigation are not the only alleged incidents of sexual violence involving Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer.
Currently on administrative leave as the league (and the police and prosecutor out in Los Angeles) investigate serious allegations of sexual assault, Bauer was previously the subject of a protective order, per a report from the Washington Post. As with all of these stories about Bauer, I advise caution if details about sexual violence are not something you’re able to read:
MLB star Trevor Bauer, on leave amid assault probe, was subject of a previous protection order https://t.co/SyOhSo5Zze
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) August 14, 2021
Some of the allegations are extremely disturbing:
An Ohio woman sought the order in June 2020 after repeated threats from the then-Cincinnati Reds pitcher, according to her lawyer and records separately obtained by The Post. Photographs independently obtained by The Post also show bruises on the woman’s face and blood in her eyes, which her attorney said was caused by Bauer punching and choking her during sex without consent. Those allegations are similar to ones made by a woman in Los Angeles this summer when she applied for a temporary restraining order ….
The Post also obtained copies of messages Bauer allegedly sent the woman, which her lawyers said prompted her to seek an order of protection. “I don’t feel like spending time in jail for killing someone,” reads one. “And that’s what would happen if I saw you again.”
There is much more in the report, including what happened with the protective order, threats of civil proceedings thereafter, disgusting texts and Snapchat messages, and MLB investigating this allegations. If you want the full picture, you can read the lengthy Post report here.
Bauer, whose representatives have denied the previous allegations, has generally remained silent. But he spoke this morning via Twitter, and denies the Post’s report:
While I have allowed my representatives to speak on my behalf over the last six weeks, I can no longer be silent. I will speak very candidly about the current petition when appropriate, but need to address the allegations made today in The Washington Post. pic.twitter.com/VhDNQyM1cb
— Trevor Bauer (トレバー・バウアー) (@BauerOutage) August 14, 2021
Neither the Reds nor the Dodgers commented on whether they were aware of this alleged series of incidents or the protective order. It might sound easy enough to find these things in the vetting process, but that’s not always the case, as – for example – this order was reportedly under seal. Nevertheless, the process undertaken by the Dodgers (and the Mets, who were right there in the signing process this offseason) will come under heavy scrutiny whenever this is finally resolved and more facts come to light.
It is all but impossible to see Bauer pitching again for the Dodgers this year, and feels almost as unlikely that he pitches again in MLB. But these investigations – both the criminal investigation in Los Angeles and MLB’s separate investigation – take time. Clearly, since previous incidents are only just now being reported. It’s all just so ugly.