LOS ANGELES — Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer, embroiled in controversy in the wake of sexual assault allegations that triggered an ongoing criminal investigation, appeared in Los Angeles Superior Court on Friday to contest the restraining order that had been placed against him in a civil hearing.
Bauer wore a burgundy suit while sitting alongside his legal team and kept his gaze forward throughout a half-hour proceeding that ultimately led to a postponement, seemingly avoiding eye contact with the woman who has accused him of sexual assault.
The hearing was pushed back to the morning of Aug. 2 after one of Bauer’s attorneys, Shawn Holley, requested more time to prepare a defense against witnesses and exhibits that she claimed to have received only recently.
Judge Dianna Gould-Saltman set aside Aug. 2, 3 and 19 for the hearing, which is expected to take between two and three days. The temporary restraining order against Bauer will remain in place until the hearing is complete. Bauer’s administrative leave expires Tuesday, but Major League Baseball can extend it again with consent by the MLB Players Association.
Bauer’s legal team told the judge that it has advised him not to testify given the ongoing criminal investigation. But the petitioner’s side stated that he must nonetheless take the stand, even if he invokes his Fifth Amendment right not to answer questions, to which the judge agreed. Both sides will call witnesses.
A representative for Bauer’s legal team did not respond to a question about why Bauer showed up in court.
MLB and the City of Pasadena Police Department are conducting separate investigations into Bauer, who has been accused by the woman of choking her until she lost consciousness on multiple occasions, punching her in several areas of her body and leaving her with injuries that required hospitalization over the course of two sexual encounters earlier this year, according to a domestic violence restraining order that was filed in L.A. County Superior Court in late June, copies of which were obtained by ESPN.
The restraining order was executed as a temporary ex parte, which can be attained without input from the other party. Bauer’s side told the judge it plans to fight the declaration “at great length” and previously issued a statement denying that Bauer had assaulted the woman, calling the encounters “wholly consensual.” ESPN does not publicize the names of potential sexual assault victims unless they’ve voluntarily identified themselves.
The hearing began an hour late, at around 11:30 a.m. PT, and moved to three different courtrooms before resuming after a lunch session a little after 1:30 p.m. Both sides waived a continuance during the morning session, but Bauer’s side argued for more time when the session resumed in the afternoon. The woman’s team said it planned to call as many as six witnesses while Bauer’s team stated it would call a maximum of three.
The Dodgers have canceled Bauer’s bobblehead night, which was scheduled for Aug. 19, and have removed all of his merchandise from the team and online stores, saying they “did not feel it was appropriate” given the investigations.
Bauer, the 2020 National League Cy Young Award winner as a member of the Cincinnati Reds, joined the Dodgers with a record-setting three-year, $102 million contract in February that includes two player options.
