If 30-year-old right-hander Trevor Bauer has taught us anything in his short time as a Dodger, it is to expect the unexpected. The North Hollywood, CA native and first-round (third overall) draft pick in 2011 by the Arizona Diamondbacks out of UCLA has also taught us that although quite a character, he hasn’t lived up to all of the (very) negative hype that the national media has tried to shove down our throats about him. In addition to being extremely competitive and a great teammate, Bauer is also a fun guy to watch and follow on Twitter (@BauerOutage).

Although the sample size is quite small, the 2020 National League Cy Young Award winner has not allowed a run and given up only two hits in his first five innings as a Dodgers. And of the 19 batters he has faced thus far this Spring, he struck out a team-leading five of them while walking only one.

Dodger fans who watched Bauer during his second start of the Spring on Saturday undoubtedly saw and heard from broadcasters Tim Neverett and Rick Monday that in his final two innings of work (of three), he was pitching with his right eye closed. At first, it appeared as though he might have gotten something in his eye. Fortunately, this was not the case.

What was the case is that the hard-throwing right-hander – who occasionally tells opposing batters what pitch he is going to throw them – is that he intentionally closed his right eye for fun.

“I figured if they can’t score off me with one eye open, it’s going to be difficult to score off me with two eyes open,” Bauer kidded with reporters after his three (additional) shutout innings on Saturday. “Just having a little bit of fun. There’s definitely a reason behind it.”

That reason, according to Bauer, is that he likes to challenge himself by intentionally making himself uncomfortable … no, really.

“I challenged myself today, too,” Bauer said. “I like making myself uncomfortable and throwing different stuff my way and trying to find a solution for it. I think that’s how you improve. Find a way to make yourself uncomfortable, get comfortable with it, and do it again.”

“I guess when he can’t get his command, that kind of recalibrates him,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after Saturday’s Spring Training game. “I love the way he pushes boundaries, and you don’t know what works and what doesn’t work unless you try it. He has a pretty good grasp on what it takes to get him right and keep him right. He’s been a treat.”

Roberts also kidded with reporters adding, “I think he threw one curveball with both eyes closed.”

Although Bauer’s method of intentionally making himself ‘uncomfortable’ is very unorthodox and definitely not something any pitching coach would ever encourage or teach, it brings to mind a popular age-old saying:

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

Play Ball!

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