Things Getting Worse For Former Cy Young Winner in Japan

Former National League Cy Young Award winner Trevor Bauer is being demoted to the minor leagues by the Yokohama Baystars of the Nippon Professional Baseball League.

Former National League Cy Young Award winner Trevor Bauer is having a very rough go of it in Japan.

Playing in the Nippon Professional Baseball League this season after having his Major League Baseball suspension lifted, Bauer is being demoted to the farm system of the Yokohama Baystars.

The Yakyu Cosmopolitan put the information out on Twitter.

RHP Trevor Bauer has been sent down to the Baystars farm and will pitch Sunday.

https://t.co/evCwzztDuF

— Yakyu Cosmopolitan (@yakyucosmo) May 20, 2023

The account continued with some clarification, saying that Bauer was being sent down for an "adjustment start" and would be back with the big team soon.

To be clear, the Baystars are considering this as an “adjustment start” and he has not been removed from the active roster. If it goes well, he is expected to make his following start back on the top team.

— Yakyu Cosmopolitan (@yakyucosmo) May 20, 2023

We told you the other day that Bauer was having a rough season in Japan. He was shelled for seven runs in two innings his last time out and currently owns an ERA of 8.40. 

While it's unknown whether any US-based team would bring Bauer in given the character concerns and suspension history, this performance and this demotion certainly don't help his case of getting back to the majors.

The 32-year-old righthander has an 83-69 career record in the majors after having pitched for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Cleveland Guardians, Cincinnati Reds and the Dodgers.

He was named to the American League All-Star team in 2018 and won the Cy Young in the National League during the COVID 2020 season. He went just 5-4 that year but pitched to a 1.73 ERA and had a league-leading two shutouts. He also helped the Reds to the playoffs that year.

He isn't the only American playing for Yokohama. Former Mets pitcher Robert Gsellman and former Yankees utility player Tyler Austin are on the roster.

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