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53 Derek Bender

  • Class Junior
  • Position C/INF
  • Height 6-1
  • Weight 235
  • B/T R/R
  • Hometown Murrells Inlet, S.C.
  • High School St. James

Biography

Honors
2023 Dick Howser Trophy Semifinalist
Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week (May 15, 2023)



2022 (Freshman)

  • Played in 22 games on the season, starting nine contests
  • Hit .250 with two home runs, seven RBIs, and three runs scored
  • Posted a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage behind the plate on the season 
  • Threw out three of 10 would-be base stealers on the year
  • Had a season-high two RBIs twice - at Arkansas State (April 3) and against the College of Charleston (April 6)
  • Made his Coastal debut behind the plate versus Kent State (Feb. 20), going 1-for-3 with a stolen base in the loss
  • Picked up his first career RBI in the road loss at UNCW (March 2)
  • Went 1-for-3 with a sacrifice bunt in the win over ULM (March 19)
  • Was 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs in the series-finale road win at Arkansas State (April 3)
  • Was a perfect 2-for-2 with a home run, walk, two RBIs, and a run scored in the home win over Charleston (April 6)
  • Had one hit off the bench in back-to-back midweek games at Charleston (April 26) and versus UNCW (May 3)
  • Picked up a pinch-hit RBI single in the home win over Clemson (May 17)


High School

  • Ranked as the No. 3 catching prospect in the state of South Carolina for the Class of 2021 by both Perfect Game and Prep Baseball Report
  • Ranked the 14th-best overall prospect in the Class of 2021 in the state of South Carolina by Perfect Game
  • Also ranked as the No. 23 overall prospect in the state of South Carolina for the Class of 2021 by Prep Baseball Report
  • Ranked as the 54th-best catching prospect in the Class of 2021 by Perfect Game
  • A 2021 Perfect Game Preseason All-American high honorable mention selection
  • A 2021 Perfect Game Preseason All-Atlantic Region second-team pick
  • A 2020 Perfect Game Preseason Underclassmen All-American third-team honoree
  • A 2020 Perfect Game Preseason Underclassmen All-Northeast Region first-team selection
  • A 2019 Perfect Game Preseason Underclassmen All-American high honorable mention pick
  • Ranked in the Top 500 National Rankings by Perfect Game
  • Competed at the 2019 PG Junior National Showcase
  • Named to the 2019 Tourney All-American team
  • Helped lead his Northeast Pride Scout club team to win the 2019 WWBA Northeast Qualifier
  • Named to the 2017 14U BCS National Championship All-Tournament team with the New York Storm
  • Also earned all-tournament team honors at the 2018 WWBA 2021 Grads or 15U National Championship and 2019 WWBA 2021 Grads or 16U National Championship tournaments
  • Named to the 2019 WWBA Northeast Qualifier and 2019 WWBA World Championship All-Tournament teams
  • Earned a spot on the 2020 PG 17U National Elite Championship and 2020 Ultimate Baseball Championship All-Tournament teams while playing with the Dirtbags Skrap Pak club team
  • Lettered in baseball at St. James High School for head coach Robbie Centracchio his senior year
  • Played four years at Albany Academy in New York from 2017-19, as the 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Named the North/South Game MVP in 2021
  • Earned South Carolina High School League (SCHSL) All-Region honors his senior season
  • Was named to the 2019 Times Union All-Area first team his sophomore season
  • Helped lead his Albany Academy team to back-to-back section championship titles in 2017 and 2018
  • Was a member of the state runner-up team in 2017 at Albany Academy
  • Guided the Sharks to a second-place finish in Region 6-AAAAA and a spot in the Class 5A state playoffs his senior season
  • Led St. James in hitting (.444), hits (32), home runs (3), RBIs (19), and was tied for first in runs scored (18) in 2021

Statistics

Season Statistics

Season Statistics

No statistics available for this season.

Career Statistics

There are no statistics available for this player.

Historical Player Information

  • 53

    2022Freshman

    C/1B
    6'0" 205 lbs
    53
  • 53

    2023Sophomore

    C/1B
    6'1" 210 lbs
    53
  • 53

    2024Junior

    C/INF
    6'1" 235 lbs
    53