Twins cut draft pick for telling opponents about incoming pitches in crucial game

The Minnesota Twins are reportedly moving on from a 2024 draft pick after just a few months with their organization.

ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan reported Thursday that the Twins fired minor league catcher Derek Bender after he told opposing players what kind of pitch would be made during a game that eliminated his team from the Florida State League.

The Fort Myers Mighty Mussels, the Twins’ Low-A affiliate, were battling the Lakeland Flying Tigers in the second game of a doubleheader on September 6 when Bender told multiple opposing players the exact pitch that was coming. The Flying Tigers scored four runs in the second inning and won the game 6-0, eliminating the Mighty Mussels from playoff contention.

Fort Myers coaches were informed of Bender’s self-inflicted pitch-tipping by Lakeland coaches after the game.

ESPN also reported that Bender “told his teammates he wanted the season to be over.”

Bender, selected by Minnesota in the sixth round (No. 188 overall) out of Coastal Carolina, hit .200/.273/.333 in 19 games for Fort Myers this season. He hit .320/.422/.520 with 11 homers and 63 RBIs in 60 games for the Chanticleers in his final college season.