The Minnesota Twins are in the playoff hunt this September but Friday morning it is their minor league club in Fort Myers that is in the headlines after missing the playoffs. And it is because some allegedly bizarre actions by a player.
Mighty Mussels catcher Derek Bender was released by club after the organization found he tipped pitches to opposing batters in a game last week. The game, which they lost 6-0, eliminated the Mussels from the Florida State League playoffs.
ESPN first reported the incident. It happened in the second inning of the second game of a doubleheader against the Lakeland Flying Tigers on September 6.
According to the report, Bender was alerting Flying Tigers batters what pitches were being thrown by starter Ross Dunn. The Flying Tigers, the Single-A affiliate of Detroit, scored four runs in the inning.
After the game, Lakeland coaches told Fort Myers coaches about what Bender had done. Bender had allegedly told teammates he wanted the season to be over. Bender did not play in the final two games of the season, both Fort Myers wins over Lakeland. But it wasn't enough to overcome losing the first four games of the series and their season came to an end.
The Twins released Bender on Thursday. Bender is a sixth round pick by the Twins out of Coastal Carolina this July.
TWINS-REDS PREVIEW
Cincinnati Reds (71-77, fourth in the NL Central) vs. Minnesota Twins (78-68, third in the AL Central)
Minneapolis; Friday, 7:10 p.m. Pregame 6:30 p.m. on WCCO Radio and the Audacy app (in-market restrictions apply).
PITCHING PROBABLES: Reds: Julian Aguiar (1-0, 5.06 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 11 strikeouts); Twins: Bailey Ober (12-6, 3.77 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 162 strikeouts)
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK: LINE Twins -217, Reds +180; over/under is 8 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Minnesota Twins host the Cincinnati Reds to open a three-game series.
Minnesota has a 78-68 record overall and a 41-31 record at home. The Twins rank fifth in the AL with 175 total home runs, averaging 1.2 per game.
Cincinnati is 71-77 overall and 35-38 in road games. The Reds have a 50-13 record in games when they out-hit their opponents.
The matchup Friday is the first meeting this season between the two teams.
TOP PERFORMERS: Carlos Santana leads the Twins with 21 home runs while slugging .426. Jose Miranda is 9-for-38 with a double, a triple and an RBI over the last 10 games.
Spencer Steer has 31 doubles, two triples, 19 home runs and 86 RBI while hitting .229 for the Reds. Ty France is 15-for-39 with two doubles and a home run over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Twins: 4-6, .226 batting average, 4.24 ERA, outscored by 10 runs
Reds: 6-4, .220 batting average, 2.28 ERA, outscored opponents by four runs
INJURIES: Twins: Max Kepler: 10-Day IL (knee), Kody Funderburk: 60-Day IL (oblique), Chris Paddack: 60-Day IL (forearm), Joe Ryan: 60-Day IL (tricep), Brock Stewart: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Alex Kirilloff: 60-Day IL (back), Carlos Correa: 10-Day IL (foot), Justin Topa: 60-Day IL (knee), Daniel Duarte: 60-Day IL (tricep), Anthony DeSclafani: 60-Day IL (elbow)
Reds: Sam Moll: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Stuart Fairchild: 60-Day IL (thumb), Nick Lodolo: 15-Day IL (finger), Austin Wynns: 60-Day IL (teres), Andrew Abbott: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Jeimer Candelario: 10-Day IL (toe), Christian Roa: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Hunter Greene: 15-Day IL (elbow), Graham Ashcraft: 60-Day IL (elbow), Nick Martini: 60-Day IL (thumb), Christian Encarnacion-Strand: 60-Day IL (hand), Ian Gibaut: 60-Day IL (forearm), Tejay Antone: 60-Day IL (elbow), Matt McLain: 60-Day IL (shoulder)
The Associated Press contributed to this story.