Skip to content

Former MLB pitcher Bolsinger sues Astros for cheating, hurting career

Icon Sportswire / Getty

Mike Bolsinger hasn't pitched in a major-league game since a disastrous outing on Aug. 4, 2017, when he allowed four runs on four hits and three walks in 1/3 of an inning against the Houston Astros. Now, he's taking the team to court for changing the course of his career, reports Nancy Armour of USA TODAY.

Bolsinger filed a civil suit against the Astros in Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday. The suit accuses the club of unfair business practices, negligence, and intentional interference with contractual and economic relations.

The 32-year-old is requesting unspecified damages for himself, but he also wants the Astros to forfeit the $31 million in bonuses they earned from their 2017 World Series title, with money going to children's charities and retired players who need assistance.

In January, the Astros were found to have illegally stolen signs throughout the 2017 season - a scheme that included banging trash cans to give signs to their batters. There were bangs on 12 of the 29 pitches Bolsinger threw against Houston in that August game, according to his lawsuit.

"I don't know if I’ve had a worse outing in my professional career," Bolsinger said. "I remember saying, 'It was like they knew what I was throwing. They're laying off pitches they weren't laying off before. It's like they knew what was coming.' That was the thought in my head.

"I felt like I didn’t have a chance."

After the ugly start against Houston, Bolsinger was designated for assignment by the Toronto Blue Jays and wasn't offered a new MLB contract in the subsequent offseason. Instead, he went to Japan with his pregnant wife and joined the Chiba Lotte Marines. In two seasons with the Marines, he's gone 18-8 with a 3.87 ERA across 232 2/3 innings.

Meanwhile, the Astros won the 2017 World Series and no players were punished for cheating. General manager Jeff Luhnow and skipper AJ Hinch were each suspended for one year - and fired by team owner Jim Crane as a result - but Bolsinger doesn't believe it's enough, leading to his lawsuit.

"I don't think the punishment has fit the crime," he said. "And let's be honest, all these guys are going to get managing jobs again. … Guys like us that were cheated? I don't have a job. I'm not playing."

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox