After the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium on June 28, 2021 in Los Angeles, California, umpires check Trevor Bauer #27’s hat and glove for foreign substances. Getty Images/Meg Oliphant Major League Baseball placed Los Angeles Dodgers superstar pitcher Trevor Bauer on a weeklong administrative leave on Friday, pending the outcome of a criminal investigation into allegations that Bauer sexually assaulted a woman in a series of horrific episodes. Bauer was placed on administrative leave on the same day that President Joe Biden hosted the Dodgers at the White House to celebrate their World Series victory last October. Bauer was not present at the occasion. Bauer, who won the National League Cy Young Award in 2020 while playing for the Cincinnati Reds, signed a three-year deal with the Dodgers in February that could pay him a total of $102 million, making him one of baseball’s highest-paid players. The 30-year-old, who was due to pitch against the Nationals in Washington on Sunday, has not been charged criminally in the alleged April and May incidents. However, he is the subject of a criminal investigation in California, which began in mid-May. Bauer’s accuser, who is 27 years old, has also filed a temporary domestic violence restraining order against him. The accuser’s attorney’s representative declined to comment. The investigation into the woman’s charges against Bauer is “ongoing,” according to a statement from Major League Baseball. “While no decision has been made in the case,” MLB stated in a statement. “We have made the decision to place Mr. Bauer on seven-day administrative leave effective immediately.” “In parallel with the active criminal investigation by the Pasadena Police Department, MLB continues to gather information in our continuing inquiry. We’ll come back to you with further information when the time comes.” On July 2, 2021, US President Joe Biden holds up a Los Angeles Dodgers baseball jersey as he welcomes the 2020 World Series Champions to the White House’s East Room in Washington, DC. Getty Images | Mandel Ngan | AFP “We affirm our earlier statement and dispute [the woman’s] allegations in the strongest possible terms,” Bauer’s agents wrote in a statement obtained by The Athletic reporter Ken Rosenthal. According to the statement, “Mr. Bauer will not challenge MLB’s decision to place him on administrative leave at this time in order to minimize any distraction to the Dodgers organization and his teammates.” “It’s important to stress that administrative leave is not a disciplinary penalty or a result of the league’s inquiry.” “I don’t believe the administrative leave can be appealed,” a Dodgers official told KNBC-TV. ” It gives MLB time to conduct an investigation without applying any sanctions “disciplinary action can be challenged, according to the spokeswoman. The news occurred just one day after Sports Illustrated published an online piece titled “Trevor Bauer Must Not Start Sunday.” Despite the “sickening” charges against Bauer, the Dodgers and MLB were chastised in the piece for their “cowardice” in not placing him on leave. Bauer’s accuser said in her restraining order application that he choked her until she passed out during two sexual meetings and repeatedly hit her in the face and genitals during one of the sessions, hurting her so seriously that she was hospitalized. She further claims that during one of the encounters, he engaged in sexual behavior with which she had not agreed. Jon Fetterolf, Bauer’s co-agent, previously stated that Bauer “had a brief and totally consenting sexual connection” with the lady who initiated the relationship. Fetterolf said NBC News, “Her justification for filing a protection order is nonexistent, dishonest, and purposefully omits essential facts, evidence, and her own pertinent communications.” Bauer, who debuted in the major leagues in 2012, has played in 17 games this season. He has an 8-5 record and a 2.59 earned run average. Jessica Golden and Jabari Young of CNBC contributed to this story./n
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