MLB Notebook: Twins prospect released after tipping pitches to opposing team
The Minnesota Twins released minor league catcher Derek Bender on Thursday after finding out he was telling opposing hitters what pitch his team was going to throw, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
Bender was Minnesota’s sixth-round selection in this year’s MLB Draft out of Coastal Carolina. He played for the Twins’ Single-A affiliate in Fort Myers, Florida. The catcher/first baseman was the 188th pick and signed for $297,500, just below the $320,800 slot for that selection.
During the second game of a Sept. 6 doubleheader, Bender tipped pitches from pitcher Ross Dunn to hitters from the Lakeland Flying Tigers, according to the ESPN report. Lakeland scored four runs in the second inning on the way to a 6-0 victory and won the Florida State League West division. Fort Myers squandered a six-game division lead during the season's final three weeks.
Following the game, coaches from the Lakeland side informed the Fort Myers coaching staff about what Bender did. There is currently no indication that the Flying Tigers betters were aware of Bender’s intentions for tipping the pitches, nor does there appear to be evidence of attempts to steal signs.
Bender reportedly told teammates that he wanted the season to be finished, according to the report. The team banished Bender from the dugout, and he sat in the team’s bullpen for the final two games of the season.
The 21-year-old batted just .200 with a .606 OPS with two homers and eight RBI in 19 professional games. The Twins or Bender have not commented on the situation.
Kumar Rocker made his big league debut on Thursday.
Rocker hurled four innings for the Rangers in their 5-4 series opening win over the Mariners. With his parents looking on from the stands, Rocker gave up one earned run off three hits while walking two and striking out seven in his debut.
The right-hander gave up a single to Victor Robles on the very first pitch of his career but was able to get out of the first inning without damage. He struck out catcher Cal Raleigh for this first punchout and slugger Randy Arozarena. The only run he gave up came off the bat of Justin Turner; he hit a solo homer in the fourth inning.
The former Vanderbilt product threw 74 pitches in the game.
"We got him where we wanted him, around 75 pitches, and he's got to feel good about that start," manager Bruce Bochy said after the game. "I'm sure he was nervous out there, and then the first two guys get hits, and, you know, he's got runners in scoring position, nobody out, and he made pitches when he had to. So it says a lot about him."
Rocker was initially drafted by the Mets with the 10th overall pick in 2021 but went unsigned due to medical concerns. The following year, the rangers selected him third overall as he was recovering from Tommy John surgery. Since July 5, Rocker has posted a 1.96 ERA in 10 outings over three different Rangers affiliates. In his final two rehab starts for Triple-A Round Rock, he had 18 strikeouts over 10 innings.
Giants All-Star pitcher Logan Webb admitted he was hungover when he pitched in the Mid-Summer Classic at Globe Life Park in July.
Webb, who revealed he partied a little bit too hard while on the “Rose Rotation” podcast, presented by JomBoy Media.
"It was probably one of the more hungover days I’ve been, the day of the All-Star Game," Webb said. "I take responsibility for that. I was having a blast. It was a cool experience. I’m watching the Derby. They had a postgame players’ celebration, like a party for the players and their families.
"It was in the middle of the Cowboys stadium; Lil’ Jon was DJing. It’s free alcohol. I just enjoyed it. I didn’t enjoy when my wife woke me up at seven in the morning and said, ‘Hey, I’ve got to get my makeup done right now,’ and I was like, ‘Oh no, this going to be a long day.’ And it was a long day."
Webb blew a 3-0 National League lead following his appearance in the game.
"I was nervous, I was excited, I had a lot of Red Bulls, and I got Tylenol because I’m trying to get the hangover out of me," he said. "I think I wasted all my good pitches in the bullpen. It was all I had, and I wasted all of them."
The right-handed hurler was thinking just one thing when he entered the game and was about to pitch in front of millions on national TV.
"’Don’t throw up, don’t throw up, don’t throw up, don’t throw up,’" Webb kept telling himself. "And it’s a long jog. I think my first pitch almost didn’t make it to [Dodgers catcher] Will Smith."
Webb gave up a single to Rangers star Marcus Semien, followed by a walk from Guardians star Steven Kwan. With two runners on, Yankees superstar Juan Soto laced a two-run double followed by a David Fry single to bring home New York’s slugger.
"I get out of the game, and I felt so bad," Webb said. "That was like 7 million people watching. I said, ‘This team is going to hate me.’ And I’m walking in the dugout, and I’m going, ‘My bad, guys, my bad, guys.’ And every superstar you can think of that was on the National team is like, ‘Dude, who gives a f---?’ Everyone was like, ‘Who cares, who f---ing cares, who gives a f---, who cares?’ That’s all I heard walking down, and I’m like, ‘Alright, that makes me feel better about myself.’"
Webb is 12-9 with a 3.46 ERA this season and owns 157 strikeouts over 30 starts for the Giants.
