Former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer continues to face legal hurdles, with recent setbacks in a lawsuit against Lindsey Hill and ongoing litigation involving an Arizona woman named Darcy Esemonu. Bauer has not pitched in Major League Baseball (MLB) since 2021, after allegations of sexual assault emerged.

Bauer's latest legal action against Hill, who previously accused him of assault, stalled again last Wednesday when Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Daniel Crowley denied Bauer's request for a default judgment. Bauer sued Hill in October 2023 for violating the terms of their 2022 settlement, which explicitly forbade her from stating Bauer or his representatives paid her money. Bauer claims Hill breached this agreement 21 times on social media, seeking $307,481.49 in damages, fees, costs, and interest—more than the $300,000 insurance payout Hill received.

Judge Crowley previously ruled in February that Bauer’s legal team failed to prove adequately that Hill breached their settlement. His recent ruling further emphasized insufficient justification for the legal fees claimed, including an hourly rate of $485 charged by Bauer’s attorneys for collecting and archiving Hill's tweets. The court indicated it would reconsider Bauer's request again in June, pending further documentation from his attorneys.

Separately, Bauer faces an ongoing legal battle in Arizona involving Esemonu, who has accused him of sexual assault, while Bauer has countersued, alleging fraud and extortion. Esemonu faces felony charges, including defrauding Bauer by falsely claiming pregnancy and demanding substantial sums. Her criminal trial, delayed multiple times, is now scheduled for June.

The civil proceedings between Bauer and Esemonu remain paused pending the conclusion of the criminal trial. Bauer’s attorneys have argued vigorously for expediting the civil matter, citing significant harm to his reputation and professional opportunities. They assert delays hinder Bauer's efforts to resume pitching in MLB.

Despite being cleared of criminal charges by the Los Angeles County District Attorney and successfully contesting Hill's request for a restraining order, Bauer received the longest suspension in MLB history under its domestic violence and sexual assault policy. Initially set at 324 games, the suspension was reduced to 194 games by a neutral arbitrator but still contributed significantly to his career disruption.

Since his reinstatement and subsequent release by the Dodgers in early 2023, no MLB team has signed Bauer. He instead pursued baseball opportunities abroad, playing in Mexico last year and currently in Japan with Yokohama, where he has struggled this season with an 0-3 record and 5.00 ERA.

Despite ongoing controversies and litigation, Bauer publicly maintains confidence in an eventual MLB return, dismissing concerns about lasting negative media attention. The next stages of his legal proceedings could critically influence both his reputation and professional trajectory.