Sudden Major League Promotion for Anraku and Bauer Amid Bullying and Assault Allegations Against Junior Players

Tomohiro Anraku, 27, a pitcher who was released from Rakuten due to power harassment, has signed a contract with the Mexican Red Devils (hereafter, Red Devils). Trevor Bauer (33), who played for DeNA last year, also joined the team. Both had been looking for a new team after getting into trouble. After a stint in a Central and South American league, they may be ready to take a big step up in their careers.

Yasura, now with the Red Devils, pitched the sixth inning of a friendly game against the Yankees in Mexico in late March, striking out two in a row to earn his first save. Although the Yankees were minor league players, Bauer, who had started the same game the day before, pitched well, allowing no runs on four hits with three strikeouts in three innings, so he must have been relieved to be held in check.

Both Yasura and Bauer were forced to leave their old clubs due to misconduct. In the case of Yasura, several players complained of power harassment during their contract renewal last year. He was released on a free-agent contract in December.

Surprising Strengths in the Mexican League

Bauer, on the other hand, is alleged to have assaulted a woman he knew and injured her face when he had sexual intercourse with her in May 2009. The charges were dropped due to lack of evidence, but he was suspended by Major League Baseball, and the Dodgers notified him in January 2011 that he was no longer a member of the team. He played for DeNA last year but was released in the off-season. This season, he signed a short-term contract with the Red Devils.

The Red Devils are a prestigious team that has won 16 Mexican League championships. How is the level of baseball?

The quality is high overall, although Japan is better in terms of detailed baseball. There are many pitchers with ball speeds over 150 km/h, and many talented players who used to play in the major leagues and have hitting ability. Romero and Amader, who played for Rakuten, the same company as Anraku, also belong to the Red Devils (Romero retired last year). I believe that the team’s support may have been the reason that Anraku was able to join the team.

What is interesting is the future of both players. Bauer, in particular, is eager to return to the majors. A source close to the major league baseball world said, “In Bauer’s case, he is hoping to return to the majors.

In Bauer’s case, he has the ability to win the Cy Young Award, and he is only 33 years old. In January of this year, he apologized and explained the allegations of sexual assault on a U.S. TV news program, and he is making a strong appeal for a return to the majors.

He has consistently denied sexual assault. When messages the victim woman sent to an acquaintance saying she was “in it for the money” and a video of a woman laughing next to Bauer’s sleeping bed the day after the incident were released, more and more people came to his defense. He has already reconciled with the victim woman. This March, he was invited to spring training with the Dodgers. If he gets results in Mexico, he may return to the majors, if not by any chance.”

In the case of Anraku, he says it will be difficult for him to return to Japanese professional baseball in a short period of time.

He said, “At least not for a few years. There is the case of Sho Nakata, who was traded for bullying the same junior player, but it is more endemic than that. He may join an independent league when the heat dies down and return to the NPB, but he will have to be prepared for harsh criticism.

However, if he joins the major leagues, the possibility of his return to the NPB increases. The majors are also strict about misconduct. Yasiel Puig, who hit 132 home runs for the Dodgers and other teams, is currently a member of Mexico’s professional baseball team after a sexual assault case. Julio Urias, also of the Dodgers, left the team after being arrested on domestic violence charges and now wants to play in Japan. On the other hand, there are cases without punishment.

Kim Ha-sung, who plays for the Padres, was accused of ‘habitual assault’ by a junior player from his days in Korea. However, no charges have been filed against Kim for the “assault,” perhaps because Kim is suing the junior player for extortion on the contrary for demanding a settlement.

There is an impression that foreign players are more tolerant of trouble caused in their home countries than they are of American players. It is possible that Anraku will sign a minor league contract in the future and then be promoted to the majors. However, it is a prerequisite that he will have an achievement in Mexico that will catch the attention of scouts in the majors. ……

The day may become a reality when the troubled Yasura and Bauer are double promoted from the Mexican League to the majors.