Photo by: Rob Rasmussen / P8Photos.com
Bender Drafted in 10th Round of MLB Draft by San Diego Padres
7/12/2021 6:46:00 PM | Baseball
Senior Catcher Becomes Third Highest Draft Pick in Program History
DENVER, Colo. – Quinnipiac baseball catcher Colton Bender (Lebanon, Connecticut) was drafted in the 10th Round with the 310th pick of the 2021 MLB Draft by the San Diego Padres, as announced Monday night.
With his 10th round selection to the Padres, Bender becomes the highest draft pick for the Bobcats since the 2005 MLB Draft when Bryan Sabatella '05 was selected in the ninth round by the Seattle Mariners. Bender is the third highest draft pick in program history.
"I am so excited for Colton on getting a chance to live out his dream," head coach John Delaney said. "He worked constantly for this program over his four years and developed into a true professional. He deserves this opportunity and I can't wait to see what is in store for him."
Bender is the fifth Quinnipiac player to be drafted since John Delaney took over as the head coach of the Quinnipiac baseball program. He joins Matthew Batten '17 in the San Diego Padres organization after Bender was drafted in the 32nd Round of the 2017 MLB Draft.
In addition to Bender and Batten in 2017, Quinnipiac also has seen Thomas Jankins go to the Milwaukee Brewers in the 13th Round of the 2016 MLB Draft, Robbie Hitt to the Milwaukee Brewers in the 24th Round of the 2017 MLB Draft and Tyler Poulin to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 29th Round of the 2019 MLB Draft.
Bender batted .266 for the Bobcats in the 2021. He led the Bobcats with seven doubles as a senior, finished second on the team with 25 hits and third with 19 RBIs. He posted a .349 on base percentage after drawing 11 walks.
In his four seasons as a member of the Bobcats, Bender recorded a .295 batting average with a .350 on base percentage. He had 132 hits in 447 at bats over 126 games. Bender had 24 doubles and seven home runs along with 70 RBIs.
Bender was a 2019 All-MAAC Second Team Selection and was a three-time MAAC All-Academic Team selection.
QUINNIPIAC BASEBALL ALL-TIME DRAFT SELECTIONS
* Selected in the January Draft
With his 10th round selection to the Padres, Bender becomes the highest draft pick for the Bobcats since the 2005 MLB Draft when Bryan Sabatella '05 was selected in the ninth round by the Seattle Mariners. Bender is the third highest draft pick in program history.
"I am so excited for Colton on getting a chance to live out his dream," head coach John Delaney said. "He worked constantly for this program over his four years and developed into a true professional. He deserves this opportunity and I can't wait to see what is in store for him."
Bender is the fifth Quinnipiac player to be drafted since John Delaney took over as the head coach of the Quinnipiac baseball program. He joins Matthew Batten '17 in the San Diego Padres organization after Bender was drafted in the 32nd Round of the 2017 MLB Draft.
In addition to Bender and Batten in 2017, Quinnipiac also has seen Thomas Jankins go to the Milwaukee Brewers in the 13th Round of the 2016 MLB Draft, Robbie Hitt to the Milwaukee Brewers in the 24th Round of the 2017 MLB Draft and Tyler Poulin to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 29th Round of the 2019 MLB Draft.
Bender batted .266 for the Bobcats in the 2021. He led the Bobcats with seven doubles as a senior, finished second on the team with 25 hits and third with 19 RBIs. He posted a .349 on base percentage after drawing 11 walks.
In his four seasons as a member of the Bobcats, Bender recorded a .295 batting average with a .350 on base percentage. He had 132 hits in 447 at bats over 126 games. Bender had 24 doubles and seven home runs along with 70 RBIs.
Bender was a 2019 All-MAAC Second Team Selection and was a three-time MAAC All-Academic Team selection.
QUINNIPIAC BASEBALL ALL-TIME DRAFT SELECTIONS
| Year | Name | Position | Team | Round | Overall |
| 2021 | Colton Bender | C | San Diego Padres | 10 | 310 |
| 2019 | Tyler Poulin | RHP | Arizona Diamondbacks | 29 | 872 |
| 2017 | Matthew Batten | SS | San Diego Padres | 32 | 948 |
| 2017 | Robbie Hitt | RHP | Milwaukee Brewers | 24 | 714 |
| 2016 | Thomas Jankins | RHP | Milwaukee Brewers | 13 | 381 |
| 2009 | Chris Gloor | LHP | San Francisco Giants | 17 | 507 |
| 2008 | John Delaney | INF | Milwaukee Brewers | 25 | 758 |
| 2008 | Chris Gloor | LHP | Detroit Tigers | 39 | 1183 |
| 2007 | Randy Gress | SS | Atlanta Braves | 18 | 558 |
| 2006 | Pat Egan | RHP | Baltimore Orioles | 36 | 1075 |
| 2005 | Bryan Sabatella | 3B | Seattle Mariners | 9 | 263 |
| 2005 | Ari Kafka | RHP | Seattle Mariners | 26 | 773 |
| 2005 | Pat Egan | RHP | Baltimore Orioles | 35 | 1053 |
| 1998 | Jeff Carlson | RHP | New York Yankees | 46 | 1368 |
| 1993 | Steve Kulpa | SS | Chicago Cubs | 55 | 1477 |
| 1988 | Turk Wendell | RHP | Atlanta Braves | 5 | 112 |
| 1988 | Doug Bond | 1B | Cincinnati Reds | 22 | 566 |
| 1988 | Dominick Rovasio | RHP | Minnesota Twins | 32 | 831 |
| 1988 | Brian Landy | LHP | Cincinnati Reds | 42 | 1082 |
| 1984 | Francesco Trasacco | LHP | Cincinnati Reds | 14 | 345 |
| 1983 | Bob Bruzik | SS | Seattle Mariners | 15 | 373 |
| 1979 | Gregory Burtt * | OF | Baltimore Orioles | 5 | 122 |
| 1979 | William Martin | RHP | Seattle Mariners | 28 | 690 |
| 1974 | Ralph Russo * | 1B | Boston Red Sox | 2 | 42 |
| 1968 | Dan Ford | RHP | St. Louis Cardinals | 35 | 76 |
* Selected in the January Draft
Players Mentioned
C
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballQuinnipiac Athletics 2024-25 Highlight Video
Tuesday, May 20
Baseball vs. Siena (May 12, 2025)
Monday, May 12
Baseball vs. Siena DH (May 8, 2025)
Thursday, May 08
Baseball vs. CCSU (4/19)
Saturday, April 19
