Los Angeles Dodgers: Trevor Bauer dominated with one eye shut

Spring training can get tedious for the veteran players in the game. They know what they need to do in order to get ready for the season, and while it is important to get stretched out by Opening Day, those six or seven weeks can feel as though they take forever. Sometimes, players need to do different things to stay engaged.

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer took that to a different level on Saturday. He decided to pitch with one eye closed during his outing against the Padres.

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer just having fun

Pitching with just one eye did not seem to affect Bauer on the mound. He allowed two hits and a walk in his three innings, striking out three batters. His breaking pitches were sharp as he appeared to be close to midseason form.

In a way, Bauer has a lot to prove this season. His ongoing free agency, and the way he courted various fanbases, infuriated a large portion of baseball fans. His overall numbers, a 3.90 ERA and a 1.265 WHiP, hardly indicate that he is worth the contract he received from the Los Angeles Dodgers, or the bidding war that had been taking place.

Yet, that ignores the pitcher that Bauer has become. He has certainly come into his own over the past three seasons, posting a 3.18 ERA and a 1.116 WHiP in his last 461.1 innings, striking out 574 batters with 156 walks. He made the All Star Team in 2018, and won the 2020 NL Cy Young award. Bauer is not the same pitcher he was earlier in his career.

And that shows, even now in spring training. He is able to be himself, with the confidence and arrogance borne of knowing that he is capable of dominating any time he takes the ball. That includes these meaningless spring training games where he needs to find some way of challenging himself.

Trevor Bauer pitched with one eye closed during a spring training game for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was still able to dominate even with that handicap.