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. However, in a recent 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 Tigers 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. Additionally, it was reported that Bender had expressed to his teammates a desire for the season to end, jokingly suggesting they let a ground ball slip past them. However, Bender insists that he was not serious about these comments.
The ongoing MLB investigation could result in severe consequences for Bender, including a potential permanent ban from the league. Reflecting on the fallout from the initial story, Bender shared, “I had to go dark for at least three days. I had to private all my social media accounts. I was getting death threats and awful, obscene things said to me.”
Despite the controversy, Bender, who is 22 years old, is determined to return to professional baseball. He plans to play for the Brockton Rox of the independent Frontier League this summer. However, he noted that he has not heard from any of his former teammates, including Ross Dunn, since the incident. “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,” Bender 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 did not specify 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.”
Adding to his challenges, Bender’s agents at Octagon dropped him as a client because he conducted the interview against their advice, which was to remain silent until the MLB investigation concluded. Bender, however, felt the need to speak out, stating, “It’s about gaining control over my life. 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 catcher and first baseman with the 188th pick in the 2024 draft. 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 more impressive, with a batting average of .326/.408/.571, 32 home runs, and 153 RBIs in 144 games.
- Bender denies allegations of pitch tipping.
- MLB investigation could lead to a permanent ban.
- Bender plans to play in the independent Frontier League.
- Former agents dropped him due to the interview.
- He aims to regain control over his life and career.
Originally Written by: ESPN.com
