Dodgers Trevor Bauer suspended two years over intercourse assault allegations

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GRAPHIC WARNING: Some readers might discover the content material disturbing.

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Main League Baseball threw Los Angeles Dodgers hurler Trevor Bauer a curveball on Friday and suspended him for 2 seasons within the wake of lurid home and sexual violence allegations.

MLB supremo Rob Manfred introduced the suspension Friday — almost 10 months after a San Diego girl claimed two sexual encounters with Bauer in April and Might 2021 turned violent with out her consent.

Bauer has denied the allegations, mentioned they have been consensual and, apparently, a Los Angeles choose agreed.

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“Within the strongest attainable phrases, I deny committing any violation of the league’s home violence and sexual assault coverage. I’m interesting this motion and anticipate to prevail. As we’ve got all through this course of, my representatives and I respect the confidentiality of the proceedings,” Bauer mentioned in a terse assertion launched to the Toronto Solar and different media shops.

The previous Cy Younger Award winner will now have to sit down out 324 video games beneath MLB’s home violence and sexual assault coverage.

He’s the primary participant to problem a suspension beneath MLB’s coverage.

The 31-year-old right-hander has been on paid administrative depart since July 2, 2021

That got here after the alleged sufferer — recognized solely as Ms. Hill — filed for a restraining order in opposition to Bauer and launched a photograph of what seemed to be her injured face.

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She claimed she attached with the star and Bauer choked her into unconsciousness, carried out non-consensual anal intercourse, and repeatedly punched her head.

However the restraining order was lifted after the choose discovered that there was no proof Bauer was prone to trigger future hurt or contact his accuser. The Los Angeles County District Legal professional’s workplace additionally declined to pursue expenses in opposition to Bauer citing inadequate proof.

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The pitcher’s authorized group additionally launched textual content messages purportedly despatched by the lady through which she expresses her want for tough intercourse. Bauer has alleged that the complainant was in search of a fast payday.

Within the interim, he sued The Athletic, one in all its former writers, and Deadspin for defamation. Earlier this month he additionally launched defamation proceedings in opposition to Ms. Hill.

Since then, one other girl claimed she endured an analogous incident with Bauer in 2017 when he starred for Cleveland. His group calls the second allegation “categorically false.”

MLB’s home violence and sexual assault don’t require a responsible verdict or legal expenses.

Sam Dyson was suspended in March 2021 for a yr. MLB has suspended 14 gamers within the six-year historical past of the zero-tolerance coverage.

However one place Bauer’s depart hasn’t hit is his pocketbook. He signed a three-year, $102-million cope with the Dodgers, together with $28 million final season together with a $10-million signing bonus.

The Dodgers haven’t commented.

bhunter@postmedia.com

@HunterTOSun