MN Twins Cut Minor League Catcher For Tipping Pitches: Reports

FORT MYERS, FL — The Minnesota Twins released minor league catcher Derek Bender from the organization on Thursday after he was tipping off opposing hitters about upcoming pitches, according to multiple reports.

Bender, 21, was a 2024 sixth-round draft pick out of Coastal Carolina. He was playing for the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels, the Twins' Single-A affiliate.

In the second game of a Sept. 6 doubleheader, Bender told multiple hitters for the Lakeland Flying Tigers the specific pitches being thrown by starter Ross Dunn, sources told ESPN.

Lakeland won 6-0, clinching the Florida State League West division and eliminating the Mighty Mussels from playoff contention.

The Mighty Mussels had held a six-game lead in the division just three weeks earlier.

Bender had told teammates he wanted the season to be over, ESPN reported.

The bat-first catcher fell to the Twins in the sixth round — No. 188 — after being ranked as a consensus top-100 draft prospect, according to the New York Times. Bender will keep his signing bonus of $297,500.

Bender struggled at the plate during his 19 games with the Twins organization, posting a low batting average, a low on-base percentage, and showing a tendency to strike out significantly more than he walked.

His final hitting stats were .326/.408/.571.