Bad MLB Pitcher-Turned-Bad Accountant Fesses Up to Stealing $145,000 From Employer

The Minnesota Star Tribune has an update on Ben Hendrickson, the former Milwaukee Brewers pitcher whose post-baseball accounting career took a dubious turn while employed by Floors Northwest in Fridley, MN.

A Twin Cities man who briefly pitched in the Twins organization and had two short stints as a Major Leaguer has pleaded guilty after being accused of cheating a post-baseball employer out of roughly $250,000 while working as an accountant.

Benjamin J. Hendrickson, 38, of Excelsior, pleaded guilty in Anoka County District Court last week to two counts of theft by swindle, which cover more than $145,000 of the overall total. Two other counts were dismissed.

The plea agreement calls for Hendrickson to serve a 90-day sentence. Formal sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 26.

According to the criminal complaint, while working at Floors Northwest, Hendrickson altered the amount of cash received to make it look like less was collected from sales staff. He deposited the lower amount and pocketed the rest, the Star Tribune reported. Nearly $160,000 of the money Hendrickson stole was taken in the final two years of his employment.

According to Hendrickson’s LinkedIn page, he began working at Floors Northwest in January 2013. The Star Tribune reported that he worked there until 2017.

Hendrickson also shifted $10,000 of the company’s money to a personal healthcare account that paid his medical bills, according to the complaint.

The former pitcher told police he thought he only stole between $50,000 and $75,000, and did it to help pay bills.

Hendrickson had a less-than-stellar Major League career, appearing in 10 games for the Brewers in 2004 and four games in 2006, finishing his pitching career with a won/loss record of 1-10 and an earned run average of 7.41.

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