The Minnesota Twins have decided to part ways with a catcher who had been recently drafted after he was caught tipping pitches to hitters during a game that could have secured a playoff spot for the Twins’ minor league affiliate. He had been with the organization for only a few months.
The player in question is Derek Bender, who had a standout last season with the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers and had recently signed a $297,500 contract with the Twins to play in the minors. The incident came to light after opposing team coaches alerted the coaches of the Twins’ minor league affiliate, the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels.
Derek Bender had yet to make his debut with the Minnesota Twins, but his impressive college stats made him a strong candidate for a major league call-up. During his time with the Chanticleers, Bender posted 11 home runs and 63 RBIs in his last 60 college games.
However, reports indicate that Bender was anxious for the minor league season to end. He had expressed to his teammates with the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels that he was eager for the season to be over.
How and When Did Bender Sign with the Twins?
Bender was selected as the 188th pick in the sixth round of the 2024 MLB Draft held in June. He was among the fortunate few to sign with a bonus, with only two catchers being signed by the Twins during the draft. The other catcher signed was Khadim Diaw, who received $597,500.
A Teammate’s Perspective
Former minor league teammate Payton Eeles shared on X (formerly Twitter) that Derek Bender was one of his favorite teammates. Eeles described Bender as a winner and stated that the team wouldn’t have achieved as much without him. Eeles also noted that Bender’s actions were a mistake typical of young players.