Twins catcher surprisingly released after being caught throwing balls to opponents

The Minnesota Twins will release 2024 draft pick Derek Bender after he allegedly told opposing hitters what pitch to throw in a minor league game, according to ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan. It appears the honeymoon phase is over for the organization and the player.

Bender, a sixth-round draft pick in July after thriving at Coastal Carolina, was playing for the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (a Low-A affiliate of the Twins) before being sent down. In a game that ultimately ended the club’s postseason hopes, the young catcher reportedly told the Lakeland Flying Tigers hitters what kind of pitch was about to be thrown.

Fort Myers lost 6-0, while their opponent won the division title. The team was informed of the alleged self-sabotage after the game, via the Flying Tigers coaches, and the news quickly reached upper management. At this time, there does not appear to be any evidence that betting was the driving force behind these alleged actions.

Bender reportedly told the other members of the Mighty Mussels that he wanted the season to end. Fort Myers’ year is well and truly over, and the 21-year-old is now out of a job. If that’s true, then the adage “be careful what you wish for” definitely applies in this situation.

Derek Bender controversy erupts as Twins push for October

He posted a .200 batting average, two home runs, eight RBIs, a .333 slugging percentage and a .606 OPS in 19 games with Fort Myers. Being drafted by an MLB franchise is supposed to be a momentous occasion for any baseball player, but apparently things have gone downhill over the last couple of months.