A Twins minor leaguer who was to be selected in the 2024 MLB Draft was released after it was discovered he had been leaking pitches to opposing teams.
Catcher Derek Bender was released from the Twins' Fort Myers Mighty Muscles, a Single-A affiliate of the Florida State Basketball Association, after it was discovered he had been telling opposing batters what pitches he was going to throw. ESPN reported. on tuesday.
The incident occurred during last week's game against the Lakeland Flying Tigers, which resulted in Fort Myers losing and cost the team a playoff berth.
Bender reportedly told several batters exactly what pitches starting pitcher Ross Dunn was planning to throw in the second game of a doubleheader on September 6.
The Flying Tigers' coaches reported what Bender had been doing to the Mighty Muscles' coaches after the game, but his actions were so bold that they surprised even the Lakeland players.
Bender also told teammates he wanted to end the season, according to an ESPN source.
With the loss, Lakeland was named the Florida League West Division champion.
The Mighty Muscles won their final two games of the season, but Bender spent those final two games in the bullpen instead of the dugout.
Bender, 21, was a sixth-round pick out of Coastal Carolina University in July's draft.
He signed for $297,500.
In 19 games with the Mighty Muscles, he batted .200/.273/.333 with two home runs and eight RBIs.
Bender watched the draft with friends and family in July to decide where he would begin his professional baseball career.
“This was probably one of the longest days of my life.” Bender told My Horry News.“Nothing prepares you for that moment. The emotions that come from just being with everyone… Today isn't just about me. It's about my parents, family, friends, coaches, everyone that's helped get me to this point. It was awesome to see them so excited. And even that brought up so many more amazing emotions.”
Bender spent three seasons with Coastal Carolina, hitting 32 home runs with a .979 OPS.
In 2023, he was named a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Award, given by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association to the best player in college baseball.
