Cleveland Indians: Checking in on how notable former Indians fared in 2020

RHP, Trevor Bauer

Trevor Bauer helped the Indians win three AL Central titles, started two games in the 2016 World Series and was named an All-Star in 2018 while in Cleveland, but no year of his career was better than his 2020 campaign as a member of the in-state rival Cincinnati Reds.

Bauer posted a national league-leading 1.73 ERA posted a 5-4 record and joined Indian right-hander Shane Bieber as the only other pitcher in baseball to strike out 100 or more batters during the COVID shortened season as he recorded exactly 100 punch outs in 73 innings of work.
Serving as the Reds ace, Bauer helped guide Cincinnati to the postseason for the first time since 2013.

There, he tossed a gem in the Reds Game 1 matchup of their Wild Card Series with the Atlanta Braves as the right-hander dealt 7.2 shutout innings with 12 strikeouts, just two hits and not a single walk.

Unfortunately, Bauer did not receive any run support as the Braves won the game 1-0 in 13 innings and would sweep the Reds after winning Game 2 the following day 5-0.

Now, Bauer enters free agency where he’ll likely spark the interest of nearly every club hoping to win a championship in 2021.

Despite the sour ending to the season and likely his tenure as a Red, Bauer will likely become the first Cincinnati pitcher to win the Cy Young Award in franchise history.