Modern Day Crash Davis: Twins 2024 6th Round Pick Released After Being Caught Telling Minor League Opponents The Pitch That Was Coming So That His Team Would Lose And Not Make The Playoffs

Isaiah Vazquez. Getty Images.

At some point, no matter how great your job is, you will get sick of it. A job is a job. That might not ring truer than this story about the Twins 2024 6th round pick sabotaging his team so his team's season could end quicker. 

Bender, a sixth-round draft pick out of Coastal Carolina in July, was playing for the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels, the Twins' Single-A affiliate. In the second game of a Sept. 6 doubleheader, Bender told multiple hitters for the Lakeland Flying Tigers, a Detroit farm team, the specific pitches being thrown by starter Ross Dunn, sources said. 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 after Fort Myers had held a six-game lead three weeks earlier.

So when you see that headline you automatically think gambling, right? We were able to dodge the Shohei-Ippei stuff from becoming a true disaster earlier in the year, but a player intentionally throwing games is a code 5 nuclear catastrophe. Then you remember that people aren't gambling on Low-A baseball, at least legally. So what would be the motivation for a catcher telling hitters what pitch is coming in that low level of pro ball? 

Fort Myers coaches were notified by Lakeland coaches about Bender's pitch tipping after the game, sources said. Bender's willingness to tip pitches surprised Lakeland players, and there were no indications of wrongdoing from the Flying Tigers, sources said. Bender had told teammates he wanted the season to be over, according to sources.

He actually just didn't want to play baseball anymore and sabotaged his team to make sure they didn't make the playoffs. Vacation was that close and he didn't wanna delay it any further. Incredible. Dude watch Bull Durham one too many times and decided he was gonna become a modern day Crash Davis. 

Anthony Rendon about to shoot this guy a follow on IG and collab on ideas. Unfortunately this only works if your team is in the hunt for the playoffs. Still gotta play 162, Anthony, or in your case 50. 

Well, Derek Bender got his wish. Not only is his season over, but so are the future ones as well. Hey, at least he got to keep his signing bonus. 

A catcher and first baseman selected with the 188th pick this year, Bender signed for $297,500, slightly below the $320,800 slot for that selection. He will keep the entirety of his bonus, sources said.

$300k for tanking your job and ruining your life. Not so bad!