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Trevor Bauer, the former Cy Young Award winner and MLB All-Star, threw a no-hitter for the independent Long Island Ducks in a 13-0 victory over the Lancaster Stormers on Sunday afternoon at Penn Medicine Park in Pennsylvania.
It was just Bauer’s second US start since 2021 and he faced just one batter over the minimum in a scheduled seven-inning doubleheader against the Stormers.
Bauer threw 84 pitches, struck out seven batters and walked just one for the loss in the perfect game.
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Trevor Bauer smiles after pitching a no-hitter for the Long Island Ducks on Sunday, April 26, 2026. (Jordan McGregor)
But Bauer unleashed a roar on the mound after a called strike three to pitch the third no-hitter in Ducks history.
Combined with his first outing for the Ducks on April 21st, Bauer has a strong 1.64 ERA to start the season in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB), which is a “Professional Partner League” of MLB.
Fans might have been rooting for the opposing Stormers, but they understood what was at stake as Bauer mowed down hitters throughout his start. They were even heard chanting his name at one point, hoping he could keep his hit streak alive.
After the game, Bauer returned to them at the Pennsylvania ballpark, signing autographs and taking photos with fans after writing his name in the Ducks’ record books.
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“I’m looking forward to competing in front of American fans again this season,” Bauer said when he signed with the Ducks earlier this month. “The Ducks have had some incredible players throughout their organization and I’m excited to be a part of that tradition.”
Ex-MLB stars such as Dontrelle Willis, Daniel Murphy, Rich Hill and Eric Gagne have previously played for the Ducks. New York Mets legends Gary Carter and Bud Harrelson both managed the team, with the latter also a co-owner.
Bauer’s first start for the Ducks impressed an AL team scout in attendance, saying he was quite impressed with Bauer’s arsenal on the bump.
“He showed glimpses of the guy he used to be and a guy who can help a club,” the scout told the New York Post. “He went out and did well. He showed glimpses of the breaking ball he had in the past. The velocity is definitely not what it once was, but it’s still solid, mostly 92-94. He didn’t throw the ball very well on the inside of the plate with his fastball, but I thought it was a really good first outing. You’d probably expect him to come up sharper on velocity.
Trevor Bauer and catcher high-five after completing the inning for the Long Island Ducks in the no-hit bid on Sunday, April 26, 2026. (Jordan McGregor)
“You’re talking about a guy who was at the top of his game. Is he back? No, but he looked like a guy who could go out and compete.”
Bauer pitched in Japan in both 2023 and 2025, with a stint in Mexico coming in 2024. He pitched to a 2.59 ERA and 9.2 K/9 in Japan in 2023, and in Mexico those numbers improved to 2.48 and 13.0. Last year in Japan, however, his ERA shot up to 4.41 and he struck out just 8.2 batters per inning. nine innings.
June marks five years since Bauer, as the reigning Cy Young Award winner, last appeared in an MLB game. On June 28 of that year, he threw six innings of two-run ball while striking out eight batters to record the win.
Two days later, Bauer was hit with sexual assault allegations, which eventually led to a 324 game suspension (the equivalent of two seasons). It was eventually reduced to 184 games for violating the league’s joint policy on domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse.
Bauer has maintained her innocence and settled with one prosecutor, while another faces 16 years in prison after being charged with fraud for faking a pregnancy and asking Bauer for money for an abortion.
Trevor Bauer pitches for the Long Island Ducks during the no-hitter on Sunday, April 26, 2026. (Jordan McGregor)
Bauer and Lindsey Hill, who accused the pitcher of beating and sexually assaulting her in 2021, settled their case in late 2023. Bauer revealed texts from Hill, who said Bauer would be her “next victim,” among other damning messages. Hill has since said MLB has more evidence of Bauer’s alleged wrongdoing.
Last June, Hill was ordered to pay Bauer more than $300,000 for violating the terms of the settlement. Hill violated their settlement agreement with each other by discussing Bauer on podcasts and in public appearances, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Nearly two years ago, Bauer said he “may have no choice” but to sue Major League Baseball “if I continue to be kept out” of the league. Bauer has said he would “play for the league minimum,” but he has yet to sign with an MLB team.
“Anyone who’s willing to sit down with me and listen: I want to play the second half of my career in a better way than I played the first half,” Bauer told Pakinomist Digital in January 2024. “I want to be an example that you can make mistakes, recognize them, adjust and then get better in the future. I think that’s something that we as human beings constantly have to do and have to do.”
Long Island Ducks pitcher Trevor Bauer throws against the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars at Fairfield Properties Ballpark in Central Islip, NY on April 21, 2026. (Thomas A. Ferrara/Newsday RM/Getty Images)
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Bauer has since called out MLB after Pete Rose and other deceased former players were removed from the league’s permanently ineligible list.
“So since Pete is welcome back now, does that apply to everyone who has been blackballed?” Bauer asked the X. “Or do you have to actually be guilty of something to qualify for that?”
Bauer was pitching well for the Dodgers at the time the allegations were made, posting a 2.59 ERA.
