LMU righty Zach Bender has swing-and-miss upside, but command is the swing factor
Zach Bender, a 6'4" right-handed pitcher for Loyola Marymount, profiles as a tall, projectable arm who anchored parts of the Lions’ 2025 rotation and kept his team in games with quality innings. In 2025, he posted a 3.99 ERA over 29.1 innings with 26 strikeouts and 15 walks, showing bat-missing ability but also the kind of command volatility that can shorten outings. His 2026 usage has included both starts and relief, so the appeal is clear: live arm, starter’s frame, and upside. The fit is best for a staff willing to develop strike-throwing consistency.
