Ex-Twins Minor Leaguer Derek Bender Denies Allegations of Pitch Tipping
In a story that has captured the attention of baseball fans and insiders alike, Derek Bender, a former minor league catcher for the Minnesota Twins, finds himself at the center of a controversy that could have lasting implications for his career. Bender, who is currently under investigation by Major League Baseball, has been accused of telling opposing hitters what pitches were coming during a game. In a candid interview with The Athletic, Bender vehemently denied these allegations, stating, “No, I never gave pitches away. I never tried to give the opposing team an advantage against my own team.”
The incident in question occurred while Bender was playing for the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels, the Twins’ Single-A affiliate. During the second game of a doubleheader on September 6, Bender allegedly informed multiple hitters from the Lakeland Flying Tigers, a Detroit farm team, about the specific pitches being thrown by starter Ross Dunn. This revelation reportedly led to Lakeland scoring four runs in the second inning and ultimately winning the game 6-0, which clinched the Florida State League West division for them and eliminated the Mighty Mussels from playoff contention.
According to sources, Fort Myers coaches were informed by their Lakeland counterparts about Bender’s alleged pitch tipping after the game. The situation has been further complicated by reports that Bender had expressed a desire for the season to end, joking with teammates about letting a ground ball slip past them. However, Bender insists that these comments were made in jest and not meant to be taken seriously.
As the MLB investigation continues, Bender faces the possibility of a permanent ban from the league. The gravity of the situation has not been lost on him. “I had to go dark for at least three days,” Bender shared, describing the backlash he faced after the story broke. “I had to private all my social media accounts. I was getting death threats and awful, obscene things said to me.”
Despite the turmoil, the 22-year-old catcher is determined to return to professional baseball. He plans to play for the Brockton Rox of the independent Frontier League this summer. However, the fallout from the allegations has been significant, with Bender noting that he hasn’t heard from any of his former teammates, including Ross Dunn. “There are a lot of times where you’re talking with people that you thought you were friends with, they just don’t look at you the same,” he lamented. “I’ve heard my friends get questioned about me, why they’re still friends with me. That’s hard to hear.”
Interestingly, Bender revealed that the Twins were willing to keep him in the organization if he admitted to the accusations and apologized. While he did apologize, he refrained from specifying what he was apologizing for. “The only thing I had left was my character at that point,” Bender explained. “Literally, the way they put it was, ‘If you want to die by the sword, we’ll release you.’ I knew there was no bluffing involved.”
The situation has also affected Bender’s professional relationships. His agents at Octagon dropped him as a client, advising him not to conduct any interviews until the MLB investigation concluded. However, Bender felt compelled to speak out. “It’s about gaining control over my life,” he said. “And this whole situation. I’m not doing this as a last-ditch effort to get back into affiliate ball. It’s more of this is the start of me taking control of my life again. Because I’ve let this completely control me for months now.”
Bender’s journey in baseball began when he was selected as a sixth-round draft pick out of Coastal Carolina in July 2024. He signed for $297,500, slightly below the $320,800 slot for that selection. During his time with Fort Myers, he played 19 games, hitting .200/.273/.333 with two home runs and eight RBIs. His college career at Coastal Carolina was impressive, with a batting average of .326/.408/.571, 32 home runs, and 153 RBIs in 144 games.
- Bender’s MLB future remains uncertain as the investigation continues.
- He plans to play in the independent Frontier League this summer.
- Bender’s professional relationships have been strained due to the allegations.
Originally Written by: ESPN.com
