The Milwaukee Brewers have reportedly dipped into the independent baseball leagues to sign a pitcher for the second time in a week, once again purchasing a player out of the American Association. According to a press release from the league, David Stearns and company have inked right-handed pitcher Anthony Bender from the Sioux City Explorers.
Bender, now 24, displayed a big arm at JUCO Santa Rosa Junior College but injuries limited him to just 16.1 innings during his sophomore season. He still showed enough to entice the Kansas City Royals to select him in the 20th round of the 2016 MLB Draft and offer him an over-slot $127,500 bonus in order to convince him to skip out on his commitment to Cal-State Northridge.