(Photo credit: Orlando Ramirez-Imagn Images)

Cy Young Award winner Trevor Bauer is returning to baseball in the United States, signing a contract with the Long Island Ducks.

The Ducks, a member of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, announced the addition of Bauer on Thursday. The right-hander is expected to be the club's starter in their opener on April 21 in Central Islip, N.Y.

'We are excited to welcome Trevor to Long Island,' said Michael Pfaff, the Ducks president and chief baseball officer. '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 spent the past three seasons pitching in Japan and Mexico. He hasn't played in the majors since June 2021, when he was pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was placed on administrative leave and ultimately suspended by MLB after a Southern California woman accused him of sexual assault. Prosecutors declined to charge him with a crime.

He has maintained his innocence and has wanted to return to the majors but no team has been willing to sign him, even though he said he would play for the major league minimum. He signed a three-year, $102 million contract with the Dodgers prior to the 2021 season and was released in January 2023.

Bauer, now 35, was the No. 3 overall pick of the 2011 MLB Draft by the Diamondbacks. He played for Arizona, Cleveland and Cincinnati before landing in Los Angeles. He won the National League Cy Young Award in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, when he was 5-4 with a 1.73 ERA. He made 11 starts that season and recorded two complete-game shutouts and struck out 100 batters in 73 innings.

In his career, Bauer has an 83-69 record with a 3.79 ERA in 222 appearances (212 starts). Between Mexico and Japan, Bauer had a 25-14 record with a 3.23 ERA in 60 games (14 starts).

With the Ducks, Bauer will be wearing a microphone during all games and practices, with content to be featured on Bauer's and the team's social media.

'I'm looking forward to competing in front of U.S. fans again this season,' Bauer said. 'The Ducks have had some incredible players come through their organization, and I'm excited to be part of that tradition.'

Former major leaguers Rich Hill and Carlos Baerga are among the players who joined the Ducks as they worked their way back to MLB rosters.

--Field Level Media