Lakeland scored four runs in the second inning and won the game 6-0 to clinch the Florida State League West division and eliminate the Mighty Mussels from playoff contention. Fort Myers coaches were notified by Lakeland coaches about Bender’s pitch tipping after the game, ESPN reported.

A Twins minor leaguer — and 2024 MLB Draft pick — lost his job after he was caught tipping pitches to an opposing team.

The Minnesota Twins have released minor-league catcher Derek Bender after he was discovered aiding opposing hitters, ESPN's Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel report. Passan and McDaniel write that the decision to cut ties with Bender was made "after he told opposing hitters the type of pitch that was coming to the plate during at-bats of the game last week that eliminated his team from playoff contention.

Did you think this only happened on Space Jam? The Fort Myers Mighty Mussels, a Low-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, fired catcher Derek Bender for the unspeakable; Bender was tipping batters from the opposing team as to what pitches were coming from the mound,

The Minnesota Twins released minor league catcher Derek Bender after he intentionally tipped pitches to opposing hitters during a loss on Sept. 6 that eliminated his team from playoff contention.

Twins prospect Derek Bender reportedly just wanted his season to be over. Now his career with the organization, and perhaps his career in baseball, is over instead.

The Minnesota Twins released former Coastal Carolina catcher and sixth-round draft pick Derek Bender after he reportedly told opposing batters which

Derek Bender was a sixth-round draft pick by the Twins in 2024 out of Coastal Carolina. (Ben McKeown/The Associated Press)

The Minnesota Twins released former Albany Academy baseball star Derek Bender on Thursday for tipping pitches in a minor-league game, according to ESPN.