Los Angeles Dodgers' Trevor Bauer suspended for two seasons

Major League Baseball announced a 324-game suspension for Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer on Friday, the equivalent of two full seasons and by far the most severe punishment handed out under the sport's domestic violence policy.

Bauer promptly released a statement announcing he was appealing the suspension, thus becoming the first player to appeal punishment through MLB's domestic violence policy.

«In the strongest possible terms, I deny committing any violation of the league's domestic violence and sexual assault policy,» Bauer's statement read. «I am appealing this action and expect to prevail. As we have throughout this process, my representatives and I respect the confidentiality of the proceedings.»

Bauer, 31, was accused of sexual assault by a San Diego woman who requested a restraining order and essentially alleged that he took consensual rough sex too far over the course of two encounters last April and May. An L.A. judge denied the woman a permanent restraining order in August, and the L.A. County District Attorney's Office declined to file criminal charges in February. But MLB, which has the autonomy to suspend players without a criminal conviction, also looked into at least one other incident of alleged sexual assault with a woman from Ohio.

Bauer joined the Dodgers on a three-year, $102 million contract in February 2021, on the heels of winning the National League Cy Young Award during the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season. He spent the last 81 regular-season games on administrative leave, plus an additional 18 to begin the 2022 season. But his 324-game suspension doesn't begin until Friday, meaning he doesn't get credit for previous time served.

Bauer's suspension, if it holds through the appeal