Mookie Betts believes Trevor Bauer should get another chance to pitch in the majors.
Speaking with reporters before Game 3 of the World Series between the Diamondbacks and Rangers at Chase Field, the 2018 MVP said his ex-Dodgers teammate is a “great guy” who should get a second shot at pitching in the big leagues.
“My experience with Bauer is not anything remotely close to what everyone else’s experience is. I love him,” Betts said, according to the Los Angeles Times. “I think he’s an awesome guy. The personal things? I have no control. I have no say. Obviously, nothing ever came from it.
“He’s an awesome pitcher. He’s a great guy, somebody who wants to take the mound every fifth day. But, at the end of the day, I don’t make the decision. That’s a decision that’s not as simple as baseball.”
Bauer, who has never been charged with a crime, has not pitched in the big leagues since the middle of 2021, when he was placed on administrative leave by Major League Baseball over allegations of sexual assault.
Before the 2022 season, the right-hander was suspended 324 games by the league, which was later reduced to 194 in December.
Before the start of the 2023 season, Bauer was released by the Dodgers but did not draw interest from major league teams, signing instead with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of the Nippon Professional Baseball League in Japan for this year.
The 32-year-old and accuser Lindsey Hill agreed earlier in October to both drop lawsuits against each other.
Bauer has maintained that sexual relations between the two were consensual.
Betts added that he hoped teams would consider taking Bauer, who won the 2020 National League Cy Young award while pitching with the Reds.
“It’s something to think about,” Betts added.
Bauer went 10-4 with a 2.76 ERA and 130 strikeouts over 130 2/3 innings with Japan this season.