Mookie Betts Calls Accused Sexual Assaulter and Former Teammate Trevor Bauer "Awesome Guy," Urges MLB to Reconsider Him

Despite ongoing sexual assault allegations, LA Dodgers' Mookie Betts praises former teammate Trevor Bauer's character and talent, igniting a wave of criticism and drawing attention to the broader issue of rape culture in sports.

Mookie Betts, LA Dodgers' star, has voiced support for his former teammate Trevor Bauer, who has been accused of sexual assault by multiple women. Bauer denies the accusations and has not been charged with a crime.
Despite the accusations, Betts describes Bauer as an 'awesome guy' and 'awesome pitcher' and urged Major League Baseball (MLB) to reconsider him. Betts' comments have sparked criticism and have drawn attention to the issue of rape culture in sports.
Bauer was placed on administrative leave by MLB in July 2021 following the allegations. This resulted in an unprecedented 324-game suspension for violating baseball's policy on domestic violence and sexual assault, which was later reduced to 194 games by an independent arbitrator. Bauer proceeded to pitch in Japan after his release from the Dodgers.
The case against Bauer includes startling details from several women claiming similar experiences of assault. One woman testified that Bauer choked her to the point of unconsciousness during sex, resulting in visible genital bruising that alarmed a Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) nurse. Despite this, many fans continue to defend him only on the basis of no actual legal conviction.
While no cases have been filed against Bauer, the issue revolves around society's perception of assault cases, the treatment of victims, and the power dynamics involved in such situations. The 'nice guy' persona often attributed to abusers, and the tendency to discredit victims based on their relationship with the assaulter, is a recurrent theme in discussions on sexual assault.
Bauer and one of the women who accused him of sexual assault have settled their legal dispute recently. The impasse, however, between supporting victims of sexual assault and potential undue condemnation of alleged perpetrators, remains a significant and complex issue.