As the Los Angeles Dodgers were concluding Cactus League play, Trevor Bauer overcame early struggles in his final tuneup to meet the target goal for innings pitched against the Cleveland Indians.
The right-hander allowed three runs in a 33-pitch first inning that he did not complete. However, Bauer returned for the second inning and proceeded to retire 11 of the next 12 batters faced.
After allowing a leadoff home run to Cesar Hernandez in the top of the sixth, Bauer was able to bounce back to get through the inning. All-in-all, he allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits with seven strikeouts over 5.2 innings pitched.
“Everything was really sharp, cleaned up the last little bit of mechanical stuff that I had going on,” Bauer said when asked if he was satisfied with his last Spring Training start.
“So mechanics felt great, velo was up to 98 again. Everything was in a really good spot, landed curveballs for strikes, landed sliders for strikes, even threw a couple changeups. Got a swing and miss on a changeup, and ground ball out on a changeup. Overall in a really great spot.”
The start against the Indians put a finish on Bauer’s first Spring Training with the Dodgers. He went 1-2 with a 4.24 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 28 strikeouts in 23.1 innings (six games), struggling more frequently as spring wound to a close.
But even if he had been lights-out, Bauer wouldn’t have put stock in that. “I’ve had the lowest ERA and not made the team, and I’ve had the highest ERA and made the team. It has literally no bearing,” Bauer said of Spring Training statistics.
“What matters in Spring Training is how you feel physically, that you’re healthy, that you got the pitch count where it needs to be, that you got enough up-downs and that you’re executing pitches.
“There’s no gameplanning in Spring Training. It’s not like you’re looking at a scouting report and going out there and saying, ‘OK, against this guy we’re going to sequence this way.’ I mean, I was telling José Ramirez what pitchers were coming. We were using just one sign with guys on second base.
“It’s all about getting your work in. It’s not a real game, it’s not a real competitive environment. A lot of the times because you know that in the back of your head, it’s hard to get up and have adrenaline. I put no stock in spring ERAs.”
Now set to make his regular season debut, Bauer is looking forward to being in a competitive environment.
Bauer identified with young fan who was bullied
Bauer’s final Spring Training start coincided with the Dodgers hosting Megan Aronson, her husband, son Kanon and his three siblings for a visit to Camelback Ranch.
It came to fruition after Megan shared a message on social media about her son’s birthday and bullying incidents over the past year.
“I was made aware he’s kind of had a rough year in school, getting bullied. That’s a story I can identify with because that was my entire childhood,” Bauer said. “I got bullied mercilessly, I hated going to school and I was miserable for 17 years of my life.
“Just wanted to try to do something special for him and give him some hope that things get better, keep being himself and all that. Signed a jersey for him, got some hats for the family, got tickets for them to come out and try to have a positive experience.
“It was a beautiful day and they got to see an entertaining ballgame, so hopefully it makes a positive impact.”
Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, participate in our shows and giveaways, and more!
