The New York Yankees selected Sauer in the second round,with the 54th overall selection,of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft.[6][7] Sauer officially signed with the Yankees on June 24.[8] and was assigned to the rookie–level Gulf Coast League Yankees,where he spent the whole 2017 season,posting an 0–2 record with a 5.40 ERA in 11+2⁄3 innings pitched.[9] In 2018, he pitched with the Low–A Staten Island Yankees where he went 3–6 with a 3.90 ERA in 13 starts and 67 innings.[10]
Sauer spent 2019 with the Single–A Charleston RiverDogs, but pitched only 8+2⁄3 innings due to injury.[11] He did not play a minor league game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[12] Sauer split the 2021 season between the Single–A Tampa Tarpons and the High–A Hudson Valley Renegades, appearing in 23 games (21 starts) and going 5–6 with a 4.69 ERA and 127 strikeouts over 111+1⁄3 innings.[13]
Sauer began the 2022 season with Hudson Valley and was promoted to the Double–A Somerset Patriots in August.[14] He struck out 17 batters in a game on August 25.[15] Sauer finished the year making 22 starts and logging a 4.54 ERA with 134 strikeouts across 109 innings pitched.[16] He spent the 2023 season with Somerset also briefly appearing for Hudson Valley, and the rookie–level Florida Complex League Yankees. In 14 games (13 starts) for Somerset, Sauer registered a 6–5 record and 3.41 ERA with 93 strikeouts across 74 innings pitched.[17] After the 2023 season, Sauer pitched for the Mesa Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League.[18]
Kansas City Royals
On December 6, 2023, the Kansas City Royals selected Sauer from the Yankees in the Rule 5 draft.[19] On March 23, 2024, manager Matt Quatraro announced that Sauer had made Kansas City's Opening Day roster[20] as a relief pitcher who can pitch multiple innings.[21] He made his MLB debut on March 31, 2024, against the Minnesota Twins, pitching a scoreless inning of relief.[22] He recorded his first strikeout three games later, on April 11, against Jon Singleton of the Houston Astros.[23] In 14 appearances for the Royals, he struggled to a 7.71 ERA with nine strikeouts across 16+1⁄3 innings pitched.[22] On May 20, Sauer was designated for assignment following the promotion of Sam Long.[24]
New York Yankees (second stint)
On May 26, 2024, the Royals returned Sauer to the New York Yankees organization. He was subsequently assigned to the Triple–A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.[25] In 27 appearances split between Scranton and the Double–A Somerset Patriots, he accumulated a 3–2 record and 6.12 ERA with 30 strikeouts across 32+1⁄3 innings pitched.[9] Sauer elected free agency following the season on November 4.[26]
Los Angeles Dodgers
On December 16, 2024, Sauer signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.[27] He was added to the 40-man roster and called up to the major leagues on March 18, 2025.[28][29] However, Sauer did not appear in the one game he was active for in the Tokyo Series and was optioned to the Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets to begin the minor league season.[30] After one game for the Comets, Sauer made his Dodgers debut on April 7, against the Washington Nationals before returning to the minors the following day.[31] On April 29, Sauer recorded his first career win against the Miami Marlins. The following week, on May 7, he recorded his first career save against the same team.[32][33] Sauer played in 10 games for the Dodgers, allowing 23 runs in 29+2⁄3 innings with 24 strikeouts for a 6.37 ERA.[34] He also made 17 starts in Oklahoma City with a 5–5 record and 6.07 ERA.[9] He was designated for assignment on September 6 and released on September 10.[35]
Personal life
Sauer's parents are David and Tami.[36][37] His mother was born on Kadena Air Base in Okinawa.[36] Sauer met his future wife Reagan in middle school, and they also attended the same high school.[38][39] Sauer is a Christian, and has attributed the strength of his faith to former minor league roommates Gary Whitlock and Glenn Otto.[39]
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