Will Bednar
San Francisco Giants
Pitcher
Born: (2000-06-13) June 13, 2000
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right

William Ross Bednar (born June 13, 2000) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the San Francisco Giants organization. He played college baseball for the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

Amateur career

Bednar attended Mars Area High School in Mars, Pennsylvania, where he played baseball under his father, Andy.[1] He originally committed to play college baseball at Ohio State University, but later switched his commitment to Mississippi State University.[2] As a sophomore in 2017, he spent a majority of the season catching, and pitched only around 15 innings.[3] In 2018, as a junior, he switched to pitching full time and went 8–0 with a 0.64 ERA and 120 strikeouts over 66 innings.[4] As a senior in 2019, his playing time was limited due to a shoulder issue.[5] Bednar was not selected in the 2019 Major League Baseball draft, and thus enrolled at Mississippi State.

In 2020, Bednar's freshman year at Mississippi State, he pitched 15+1⁄3 innings, striking out 23 and compiling a 1.76 ERA before the remainder of the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[6] As a sophomore in 2021, he moved into the starting rotation, going 7–1 with a 3.17 ERA and 109 strikeouts over 15 games (12 starts) for the regular season.[7] He was named to the Newcomer All-SEC Team.[8] During game three of the 2021 College World Series, Bednar pitched six innings in which he allowed three walks and zero hits while striking out four, subsequently being named the College World Series Most Outstanding Player as Mississippi State won their first ever College World Series.[9] For the 2021 College World Series, Bednar pitched to a 1.47 ERA over 18+1⁄3 innings.[10]

Professional career

Bednar was selected by the San Francisco Giants in the first round with the 14th overall selection of the 2021 Major League Baseball draft.[11] He signed for $3.65 million.[12] He made his professional debut with the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League Giants, and was promoted to the San Jose Giants of the Low-A West after two appearances.[13] He pitched a total of seven innings for the season, striking out six while allow one earned run.[14]

Bednar opened the 2022 season ranked as San Francisco's fourth best prospect.[15] He returned to San Jose to begin the season.[16] In mid-June, he was placed on the injured list with a back injury and missed the remainder of the season.[17][18] Over 12 starts for the season, he went 1–3 with a 4.19 ERA, 51 strikeouts, and 22 walks over 43 innings.[19] He was selected to play in the Arizona Fall League for the Scottsdale Scorpions after the season.[20] Bednar pitched in only four games in 2023 due to back injuries.[21] He was assigned to the Arizona Fall League for the second year in a row after the season.[22]

Personal life

Bednar's older brother, David, plays for the Pittsburgh Pirates.[23]

References

  1. ↑ "Mars' Bednar family enjoying life on the diamond". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  2. ↑ "Mars' Will Bednar switches commitment to play baseball at Mississippi State | Trib HSSN". September 17, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Bednar's report on little bro's stuff: 'Electric'". MLB.com.
  4. ↑ "Mars baseball pitcher Will Bednar chooses Mississippi State". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  5. ↑ "Will Bednar, MLB draft prospect at Mars, deals with shoulder issue". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  6. ↑ "/ccpa/". TribLIVE.com.
  7. ↑ "Breaking down Mississippi State, Notre Dame by the numbers ahead of Starkville Super Regional". The Dispatch. June 10, 2021.
  8. ↑ "SEC Baseball awards, All-SEC Teams announced". May 25, 2021.
  9. ↑ Cavadi, Wayne (June 30, 2021). "College World Series Most Outstanding Player award history, winners". NCAA.com. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
  10. ↑ Kelly, Matt (June 30, 2021). "Bednar unhittable en route to CWS crown". MLB.com. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  11. ↑ "How Will Clark helped make Will Bednar's selection by San Francisco Giants extra special".
  12. ↑ Thompson, Stephen (July 23, 2021). "Mars High School Alum, No. 14 Pick Will Bednar Inks Rookie Deal with Giants". pittsburghsportsnow.com. PGHSN. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Giants' Will Bednar: Notches first promotion".
  14. ↑ "Giants minor league review: Bednar off to strong start".
  15. ↑ "Giants Top Prospects". MLB.com.
  16. ↑ "San Jose Giants Announce 2022 Roster".
  17. ↑ "Giants draft preview: Will pitching be the focus again this year?".
  18. ↑ "Giants' Will Bednar: Placed on injured list".
  19. ↑ "Will Bednar Stats, Fantasy & News".
  20. ↑ "The Arizona Fall League rosters are here -- and they're loaded". MLB.com.
  21. ↑ https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/giants-will-bednar-opens-season-on-shelf/
  22. ↑ https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/giants/article/giants-1st-rounders-bednar-reggie-crawford-18467161.php
  23. ↑ Horka, Tyler. "Mississippi State's Will Bednar has major supporter in brother David, a Pirates pitcher". The Clarion-Ledger.
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