Colton Bender Drafted by San Diego Padres in 10th Round

(Norwich, CT) – Colton Bender – the Lebanon, CT native who played 12 games with the Norwich Sea Unicorns in their inaugural season in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL) – was selected by the San Diego Padres in the 10th Round of the Major League Baseball Draft.

Bender becomes the second member of this season’s Sea Unicorns team to advance to professional baseball. Jayvien Sandridge, a pitcher on this year’s Sea Unicorns roster, signed with the Cincinnati Reds in June.

“We are very proud to now have two members of this year’s Sea Unicorns roster move on to professional baseball, which speaks to the high quality of play here in the FCBL,” said Dave Schermerhorn, General Manager of the Norwich Sea Unicorns. “To have a local kid from Lebanon who grew up in our community coming to Dodd Stadium spend part of his baseball journey with us this season on his way to being drafted by the San Diego Padres makes today even more special. We wish Colton all the best in this exciting new chapter for him.”

Bender began the season with the Sea Unicorns and made his presence felt in 12 memorable games for Norwich before moving on the Cape Cod League with the Bourne Braves. He hit .348 with two home runs, 10 RBIs, 14 runs, and 16 hits. The former Quinnipiac University Bobcat led the Sea Unicorns to their first ever Extra-Innings Home Run Derby win, hitting seven home runs in Worcester on June 8 to clinch the victory in the format that decides games when tied after 10 innings in the FCBL. Bender also hit a three-run home run in the first inning the next night and finished with three hits, three runs, and three RBIs in an 8-4 win at Nashua. He followed that with a go-ahead two-run home run in the eighth inning in a 4-2 win at New Britain on June 10.