A new face and former Major League Baseball All-Star is set to take the mound for the Long Island Ducks when they open their season on April 21. Former National League Cy Young Award winner Trevor Bauer has signed with the club, the Ducks announced in a news release on Thursday. Bauer, 35, led the NL in earned run average in 2020, but has been embroiled in controversy in recent years. He has spent the past three seasons pitching in Japan and Mexico while serving an MLB suspension amid sexual assault allegations against him. On the field, Bauer was an All-Star in 2018. He was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks with the third overall pick of the 2011 MLB Draft. He made his debut in the majors in 2012 and stayed in the league for 10 seasons, also toeing the rubber for the Guardians, Reds and Dodgers.

Along with announcing the signing, the Ducks also revealed that Bauer will be mic'd up for all games and practices in the 2026 season for special features on social media. "We are excited to welcome Trevor to Long Island," Ducks President and Chief Business Officer Michael Pfaff said in the release. "His talent and knowledge will be important additions to our ballclub, and we are happy to offer him this opportunity to showcase his talents to MLB clubs while giving fans unprecedented access to Ducks baseball." Bauer, who went 83-69 in the MLB with a 3.79 ERA, posted about his decision to sign with the Ducks on X. "I'm looking forward to competing in front of U.S. fans again," he said in the post.