Trevor Bauer, 32, of the Yokohama DeNA BayStars, has been named the monthly MVP.
On June 11, the Central and Pacific Leagues announced their June MVPs, according to Japanese media outlet Sportshochi. This is 메이저토토 Bauer’s first monthly MVP honor since entering Nippon Professional Baseball. He became the first foreign pitcher in Yokohama to win four games in a month since Domingo in September 2003.”
Bauer, who won the National League Cy Young Award in 2020, is a major league ace with a career record of 83-69 with a 3.79 ERA in 222 games (1297⅔ innings). However, sexual assault allegations surfaced in 2021 and he was effectively banned from Major League Baseball until last year.
Bauer decided to try his hand at Nippon Professional Baseball and signed a one-year, $3 million contract with Yokohama with high expectations. But after a seven-inning, one-run win over Hiroshima in his debut, Bauer was demoted to the second team after giving up 14 runs (13 earned) in eight innings in two games.
After a readjustment, Bauer has performed well since his return. In seven games (51⅓ innings), he is 5-0 with a 2.10 ERA, leading Yokohama’s upswing. In June, he went 4-0 with a 2.08 ERA in four games (30⅓ innings), a performance worthy of monthly MVP honors.
“It’s a great honor,” Bauer said. “You can’t win if you don’t put runs on the board with the effort of your pitchers. I want to thank my teammates because I can’t be a winning pitcher without them,” Bauer said of his MVP honor.
Bauer, who credits his June success to his adaptation to Japanese baseball, said, “I think the most important thing is that I was able to think on the same page as the catcher. When you shake your head less, your tempo improves and you can create a good rhythm. I think that’s the most important factor.” “I’m having a great experience and a great time in Japan. I’m really grateful to the fans for their support through the ups and downs. I feel like I have their support. I’m really grateful for that.”
Second-place Yokohama (42 wins, 2 draws, 34 losses) trails first-place Hanshin (44 wins, 3 draws, 32 losses) by two games in the Central League. “The race for the Central League title is on,” said Bauer. I want to help as much as I can, and I think we’re playing well with some really good players. I want to do my part and win the title and make this a season that the fans can celebrate with us.”